Poll: Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

The Government is going to hold a referendum to lower the voting age. Good idea?

THE GOVERNMENT IS planning to hold a referendum on whether the voting age should be lowered from 18 to 16.

Youth groups have argued that allowing 16-year-olds to vote in local, national and European elections would give young people a greater say in decisions that affect their lives. Opponents argue that 16-year-olds are too young or may not have enough information to decide who to vote for.

The majority of countries allow people to vote at the age of 18 although a small number have already lowered the age to 16, including Brazil, Argentina, Austria and Estonia.

So today we’re asking: Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

Poll Results:

No (3115)

Not sure (1838)

Yes (1427)

Yes
No
Not sure

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Labour Youth campaigners call for the voting age to be lowered to 16 Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

The Daily Poll

Author

Christine Bohan

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