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Lowering the Voting Age to 16? A Comparative Study on the Political Competence and Engagement of Underage and Adult Youth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2020

Valérie-Anne Mahéo Open the ORCID record for Valérie-Anne Mahéo [Opens in a new window]  and
Éric Bélanger Open the ORCID record for Éric Bélanger [Opens in a new window]
Valérie-Anne Mahéo*
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, Université de Montréal, C. P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7
Éric Bélanger
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, McGill University, 855 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QuebecH3A 2T7
*
*Corresponding author. Email: va.maheo@umontreal.ca
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Abstract

One reform considered for increasing voter turnout rates is to lower the voting age to 16 years old. Advocates of such a reform argue that young people would vote for the first time while they are still in school and living with their parents, which would provide a social context that is supportive of their electoral participation. However, opponents argue that 16- and 17-year-olds are not mature enough to take part in elections. Using data from a 2018 Quebec election survey that included a subsample of individuals aged 16 and 17, this study provides mixed evidence for both arguments.

Résumé

Résumé

Une des réformes envisagées pour accroître le taux de participation vise l'abaissement de l’âge de vote à 16 ans. Les partisans d'une telle réforme font valoir que les jeunes voteraient pour la première fois alors qu'ils sont encore à l'école et vivent avec leurs parents, ce qui offrirait un contexte social favorable à leur participation électorale. Cependant, les opposants font valoir que les jeunes de 16 et 17 ans n'ont pas la maturité suffisante pour exercer leur droit de vote à bon escient. En utilisant les données d'une enquête d'opinion sur les élections québécoises de 2018, qui a inclus un sous-échantillon de jeunes âgés de 16 et 17 ans, cette étude fournit des preuves mitigées pour les deux points de vue.

Keywords

youthvoting age reformpolitical participationvoter preparednessQuebecjeunesréforme de l'âge de voteparticipation politiquepréparation des électeursQuébec
Type
Research Article/Étude originale
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 53 , Issue 3 , September 2020 , pp. 596 - 617
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 2020

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