The Current Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?
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Jul 23, 2025 Andrew Mycock, a political scientist and Chief Policy Fellow at the University of Leeds, joins Mary Lou McFedrin, an independent senator from Manitoba, to discuss the push for 16-year-olds to vote. They argue that young people are deeply affected by crucial issues like education and climate change. Mycock references successful voting age reforms in the U.K., while McFedrin advocates for youth involvement to foster a more representative democracy. The conversation highlights how engaging younger voters could reshape political landscapes in Canada and beyond.
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Rethinking Voting Age and Adulthood
- Lowering the voting age to 16 can boost democracy and political engagement.
- Different adult responsibilities start at different ages, so voting age shouldn't be strictly tied to a single age of majority.
Youth Voting Boosts Democracy
- Public opinion in the UK has been widely against lowering the voting age for 20 years.
- Early voting could create lifelong voting habits and energize politics with youth involvement.
Invest in Civic Education
- Improve civic education to better prepare young people to vote, regardless of age.
- Socializing young people into voting is essential for meaningful political participation.