Right to vote from 16 ?: "Just lowering the voting age would be naive"

Ms. Kritzinger, after the SPD, the Left Party and the Greens, the FDP is also calling for the first time in Germany to have the right to vote from the age of 16 at all political levels.

Austria introduced it back in 2007, as the first country in the EU.

Do you remember how the lowering of the voting age was commented on at the time?

Tim Niendorf

Political Editor.

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Such a topic is always controversially discussed, it was no different in Austria, with the SPÖ and Greens, who were in favor of lowering the voting age, and ÖVP, FPÖ and the BZÖ, who raised critical voices here.

Some people found it problematic to give 16 and 17 year old citizens the right to vote.

They wondered whether the youngsters are mature enough at all.

The sixteen and seventeen year olds could vote beforehand in individual federal states.

In 2007 there were then elections to the National Council or elections at all levels.

How did it come about?

This went hand in hand with a general reform of the electoral law: at that time, the parliamentary term of the National Council was extended from four to five years and the right to stand for election was reduced from 19 to 18 years.

And so the coalition of the SPÖ and ÖVP agreed on both, everyone wanted something and everyone got something.

So it was a consensus decision, so there was no massive criticism.

Today no party questions the lowering of the voting age to 16 years.

There have been a few elections since the reform that you have also observed and investigated.

14 years after the reform: what is your conclusion?

Can Germany take Austria as an example?

In any case, the elections so far have shown that the fears have not been confirmed.

In the first election we saw that the sixteen and seventeen year olds are definitely interested in politics and that they also voted for the parties that represented them best.

What was exciting at the time was the realization that they made more use of their voting rights than those who were 18, 19 or 20 years old.

So voter turnout has not decreased, as feared.

To put it bluntly, one could have said: One would have to think about whether it is good to let citizens of 18 to 20 years of age vote for the first time.

Because they had the lowest voter turnout.

However, we have noticed changes over time.

Which are they?

In the meantime, there are no longer any significant differences in voter turnout between young and older first-time voters.

This could be due to the fact that the latter already have one vote behind them due to the lowering of the voting age and are therefore now continuously using their vote.

That would speak in favor of lowering the voting age.

And then there was the federal presidential election in Austria in 2016.

The runoff election had to be repeated due to irregularities.

And many noticed how important your own voice can be.

When the election took place again in December 2016, around 36,000 first-time voters had been eligible to vote since April 2016.

In other words, roughly as many votes as the candidates Alexander Van der Bellen and Norbert Hofer had separated in the original ballot. 

Now, voter turnout is one thing.

The crucial question, however, is: Are the young people mature and informed enough?

But can you give the all-clear there too?

Exactly. We see that the young people are very well informed. That they understand which parties represent their interests. However, there are minor differences in political knowledge. Political cynicism is much less common among younger people than among older people. You still believe that you can make a difference. When it comes to climate policy, for example, it is evident that the younger generation would like to have a say. Because it's about their future. Just think of the Fridays for Future movement. So we shouldn't be afraid of the sixteen and seventeen year olds. Most of them still live at home and attend an educational institution and can talk to their parents or at school about politics. On the other hand, 18 is the worst age to be released into the role of citizen.There is so much else going on in a young person's life; for many, politics takes a back seat. But: just lowering the voting age would be naive.

What do you mean?

It needs accompanying measures.

Politicians have to go to schools and teachers have to give students information on the way.

A separate subject would also be conceivable.

But what about those who leave school earlier?

An important point.

You have to think about informing the younger generation politically and of course you mustn't forget to involve the vocational schools.

There are also demands that go further.

In Germany, the Green Youth even advocates voting rights that allow children to vote.

So: no more age limit.

From a scientific perspective, I would say: You have to look at it empirically. So what about political interests and political interest? Or can preferences be articulated and then translated into a voice? If the empirical results show that these points are given, then a further lowering of the voting age could well be considered. Elections are about the future of a country. The political decisions that are made have an impact on the future of young people - so they should also have a say, if the conditions are met. However, one should not forget accompanying measures.