Rudd plans to lower voting age to 16 (4 Viewers)

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

Smart tactical move. I'm sure he's well aware that young people and migrants vote heavily in favour of Labour. I doubt he'd do it otherwise.

I think it's a good move, though. Gets people involved in politics and thinking about their world at an earlier age.

Proposal to lower voting age to 16 - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[HumanDichotomy]

Most 16 year olds i know won't give a crap still. Too early by far.

Even at 18, i had no idea about political party policies etc. Still don't really. Must rectify.

Fair enough. But there are 16s who *do* give a crap. I did. My friends did. Maybe it should be optional for 16s and 17s and then compulsory from 18?

 

[P.T.F.E]

16 is way too young. Probably for more votes because what 16 year wont vote for a "dude who gives out laptops and $900". but logically if its compulsory, at 16 i couldnt organise my self to go to the electoral booth and vote. unneccersary.

 

[P.T.F.E]

Fair enough. But there are 16s who *do* give a crap. I did. My friends did. Maybe it should be optional for 16s and 17s and then compulsory from 18?

yer thats a good idea. at 16 i wanted to vote. but if its compulsory a lot of votes would be very misinformed... o wait thats no change.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Fair enough. But there are 16s who *do* give a crap. I did. My friends did. Maybe it should be optional for 16s and 17s and then compulsory from 18?

or maybe it should never be compulsory?

 

[occer]

Good, it should be optional at 16 though.

That way most of the morons won't sign up.

 

[ashie0]

Although vote driven, i think it's a good idea. There are a lot of political issues which affect sixteen year olds, i think it's positive to involve young people in politics and promote political awareness. We shall see.

edit: basically what shodan said.

 

[Jeee]

Unfortunately, the majority of sixteen year olds I know, know absolutely nothing about Australian politics nor care about how the country is run.

I think the voting age should be lowered to sixteen. However, voting should be optional for those who are sixteen and seventeen. Those who really are into politics would make the effort to vote, and those who aren't, wouldn't. It would not skew anything dramatically.

 

[sam04u]

"Hey, you're old enough to make babies at 16 but not old enough to decide what kind of world they'll be brought up in."

Uh, kay...

This proposed reform should and will be welcomed.


Also yes, I support the notion of it being optional at 16 as opposed to it being mandatory.

 

[ashie0]

Alcopops will then be the downfall of Rudd.

Terrible idea.

Edit- They can be involved in politics.... in the classroom.

Leave the voting for the big boys.

How do you expect people to want to be involved and aware if all people do is condemn and patronize their enthusiasm? Government policy impacts on a vast majority of sixteen year olds, why not allow them to have their say?
There are plenty of ignorant people above the age of eighteen, it will always be the case. I think optional voting from sixteen is a brilliant idea.

 

[dieburndie]

Unfortunately, the majority of sixteen year olds I know, know absolutely nothing about Australian politics nor care about how the country is run.

This doesn't change when they turn 18. It's also true for the majority of Australian adults.

The voting age should be lowered to 16, but it should be made voluntary for all.

 

[Stephie-Rae]

Fair enough. But there are 16s who *do* give a crap. I did. My friends did. Maybe it should be optional for 16s and 17s and then compulsory from 18?

Totally agree.

 

[jb_nc]

LOL guys you can vote when you're 16

HOMOS IM SORRY YOU CANT EVER GET MARRIED

 

[Sprangler]

On the ballot paper you should have to list and detail at least 5 of the party/candidate's policies else your vote doesn't get counted. I don't want to vote or be made to vote because I don't give a shit about Australian politics .

 

[loquasagacious]

This doesn't change when they turn 18. It's also true for the majority of Australian adults.

The voting age should be lowered to 16, but it should be made voluntary for all.

Agreed.

 

[chelsea girl]

This doesn't change when they turn 18. It's also true for the majority of Australian adults.

The voting age should be lowered to 16, but it should be made voluntary for all.

this.

 

[chicky_pie]

FUCKING BULLSHIT
My younger brother doesn't even know about politics
This is a thirst for labor, since all 16 year olds get centrelink payments and all that
thinking krudd is their provider
SHOCKING SOCIALIST MOVE!

I guess we should also lower the legal requirements to drive to, from 16 to 10 years old.

 

[jkdsfsio3458963]

i can remember reading a newspaper poll a couple of years ago where about 90% of teenagers supported either the labor party or the greens, so i can understand why the liberal party would be shit scared of this. As people have already said, voting should be a right, not a compulsory obligation

 

[spence]

or maybe it should never be compulsory?

This

 

[The_highwayman]

the unemployed should not be allowed to vote.