March 07, 2017
Age switch could engage younger voters
Manurewa MP Louisa Wall has welcomed a call from Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft for 16 year olds to be given the vote.
She says political participation among younger peolple is falling, with only 72 percent of 18 to 24 year olds enrolled and only 63 percent of those voting in the last election.
That's almost a quarter of a million young New Zealanders who did not participate.
The figures are similar among 25 to 30 year olds, in contrast to the four out of five over-50s who will regularly turn out.
"I think the Children's Commissioner is being visionary and also trying to create solutions because if we allow 16 year olds to vote there is a necessity to engage with them in that process," Ms Wall says.
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