Voting age: Why is Britain giving voting rights to minors, what is the voting age in which country?

News Topical, Digital Desk : The UK government has decided to reduce the voting age from 18 years to 16 years. Now the government has decided that before the 2029 elections, voting ID cards will be made for 16-year-old youth as well. However, a law will have to be brought to implement this.

There are more than 1.6 million youth aged 16 and 17 in Britain's 68 million population. This step is considered to be the biggest change in the voting rights in the last 50 years. Earlier in 1969, the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years.

In many countries of the world, 16-year-olds have the right to vote. Countries like Austria, Malta and Brazil allow voting at the age of 16, while in Greece this age is 17. In some countries, this right is given partially.

For example, in Germany and Belgium, 16-year-olds can vote for the European Parliament, but not in federal elections. The UK already allows 16-year-olds to vote in some elections in Scotland and Wales.

What is the reason for reducing the voting age?

According to the New York Times, surveys in Britain have long shown that young voters have leaned towards left-wing ideology. It is believed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer's left-wing party benefits the most from the voting rights of the youth.

What is the voting age around the world?

There are not many countries in the world that allow voting at the age of 18. In 2007, Austria became the first European country to raise the voting age for national elections to 16. Malta took a similar step in 2018. In Brazil, voting is allowed from the age of 16, but it is voluntary.

Whereas in Greece, the right to vote is given from the age of 17. Some countries, such as Germany, Belgium and Scotland, allow 16-year-olds to vote in local or special elections. Overall, out of more than 200 countries in the world, only a few countries allow voting at the age of 18. In most countries, the voting age is 18 years.

What is the voting age in India?

In India too, the voting age is 18 years. In 1989, the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years through the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act.

This change was implemented by amending Article 326 of the Constitution. Across the world, 18 years of age is considered the standard for voting. In more than 150 countries, the voting age is 18 years, including India, America, Canada, Australia and most European countries.

When the Constitution was implemented in 1950 after independence, the voting age was set at 21 years. But in the 1980s, there was a demand to increase the political involvement of the youth. In 1988, the then Rajiv Gandhi government proposed the 61st Constitutional Amendment.

Its purpose was to involve more and more youth in politics. This bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 20 December 1988 and in the Rajya Sabha on 23 December. It was implemented on 28 March 1989.

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