Why the voting age should be dropped to 16

Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil is backing the campaign to lower the voting age to 16. Have your say in our poll.

Author, media personality and Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil has announced her support for a campaign fighting to lower the voting age to 16 in Australia.

“I want to raise awareness of the campaign because it is so important for young people to have a voice,” Ms Thattil said.

“A lot of people think maybe young people don’t care about what’s going on in the world. But I think young people today are so aware of the social and political landscape.

“And ultimately they are inheriting the future based on decisions we make today.”

Maria Thattil would like the voting age to be revised to 16. Picture: Supplied

Ms Thattil said that whenever blanket assumptions are made about young people, it should be remembered that some of the biggest revolutions in the world are being fought for and driven by young people.

“People forget young people also have a lot of responsibilities as it is,” she added. “They can drive, consent to medical procedures, vote in political party preselects, leave school or home, pay rent - but they still can’t vote.

“They are highly politically engaged, especially because social media has given them information at their fingertips. They are information-hungry and they want to have a voice.

“And they should have a say.”

New research released has found that two thirds of Aussies (60 per cent) now want to discuss lowering the voting age in Australia to 16, rising to over seven in ten for 18-34 year olds (74 per cent).

The research, which was commissioned by The Body Shop Australia and conducted by YouGov Research online, also revealed why young people are the driving force behind the move, with over a third (34 per cent) of 18-24 year olds agreeing that young Aussies pay tax and have adult responsibilities, so they should be able to have a say.

Over a quarter of 18-24 year olds (27 per cent) agree that it would lead to a more inclusive democracy and over a third (36 per cent) of all Aussies could be convinced with more education and information.

In 2018 the federal parliament debated an electoral amendment to lower the national voting age to 16.

The bill failed despite support from both Labor and Greens.

Countries where the voting age is 16 include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

Teens aged 17 are allowed to vote in East Timor, Ethiopia, Indonesia, North Korea and Sudan.

The Body Shop becomes the first major business to back the voting age campaign in Australia.

It is campaigning and supporting the petition in its stores, providing education to customers and donating $50k to support the cause.

“If we look at other countries and what they’re doing, research and insight is showing us that when they lowered the voting age, it strengthens democracy,” Ms Thattil says. “It also makes a country more inclusive and it helps elected representatives make better decisions.”