Hołownia wants 16-year-olds to vote in elections. What arguments does he have?
Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Holownia has announced work on lowering the voting age to 16. Similar demands are also being made in Romania.
At a meeting with pupils and students of the 5th Comprehensive School in Kraków on 30 November, Sejm Speaker Szymon Hołownia announced that a proposal to reduce the constitutional voting age in general elections to 16 would be presented in the Sejm. He argues that this is necessary to restore balance between the voting power of the youth and the ageing population.
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It is commonly believed that young people hold the key to the future, but the reality is that the majority of voters are elderly. As seniors, we are making decisions through our votes that will impact your lives for much longer than our own, even though we will not be around to see it.
On 1 December, Polska 2050 party’s vice-president Paulina Henning-Kloska spoke out on the issue in an interview with Radio Zet. She declared: "I want those who protest against the destruction of the planet, who want the government to fight climate change, to have a voice." Radio listeners had their say on the subject during the interview in a poll. 81% were against lowering the age threshold for participation in elections.
There is also an ongoing debate in Romania regarding the possibility of allowing voting from the age of 16. A group of young Romanian citizens have started a petition on the https://facem.declic.ro website, arguing that they have financial and legal obligations towards their country and, therefore, they should be granted the right to participate in elections.
The Romanian initiative pertains to a resolution passed by the European Parliament in May 2022. The resolution proposes introducing a single harmonised voting and candidacy age of 16 for the European elections in 2024. This measure ensures equality and prevents discrimination in access to fundamental civil and political rights.
Does voting from the age of 16 have an impact on policymaking?
In 2007, Austria became the first country in Europe to lower the voting age to 16. According to a study conducted by sociologist Eva Zeglovits for the Foundation for European Progressive Studies, young Austrian men and women demonstrated political maturity by participating in higher numbers than older first-time voters. The study also found that the turnout among the youngest group was higher than that of older first-time voters.
However, Zeglovits stressed that this did not translate into greater interest among political parties in areas particularly important for young citizens. In a 2018 study, she wrote: "To date, there is no evidence that political parties have changed their agenda to match the interests of young people."
Consequently, and what politicians still don’t understand, young people are more likely to prioritise having their concerns heard over being able to vote for disinterested parties at a lower age.
Source: businessinsider.com.pl, feps-europe.eu
