Greens call for NZ Govt to take UK’s lead and lower voting age

The Green Party is calling on the Government to follow the lead of the United Kingdom and lower the voting age to 16.

“We are calling on the New Zealand Government to follow in the footsteps of the United Kingdom and lower the voting age to 16,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Democracy and Electoral Reform, Celia Wade Brown.

“Young people deserve to have a say in the decisions that affect their future. The choices we make today will determine the burden future generations carry. It is only fair that the voices of these generations have a say.

“Aotearoa was a world leader in being the first country in the world where women gained the vote, but we are falling behind the pack when it comes to giving this right to youth.

“The Supreme Court in Aotearoa has already ruled that denying 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote is a breach of their human rights.

“The Independent Electoral Review into the 2023 General Election recommended lowering the voting age and the Green Party agreed, but the coalition-dominated Select Committee rejected this sensible step. We heard that starting voting at 16 means a higher turnout continues. This is critical for our democracy, for both central and local government elections.

“Just this month, we heard loud and clear from youth MPs that it’s time to lower the voting age to 16. Our youth care about our future, they care about this country, and they want to be involved in making New Zealand a better place.

“Christopher Luxon can begin to show he cares about democracy by demonstrating some leadership and lowering the voting age. This is a decision in his Government’s hands and one we can make now,” says Celia Wade Brown.