Policy Voices | #Democracy Special: Lowering the voting age to 16

As part of the work to design a renewed social contract for Europe, Debating Europe is embarking on a crucial exploration of the challenges facing liberal democracies in the 21st century. In an era dominated by global issues such as climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence, the traditional decision-making tools inherited from the past two centuries are proving to be inadequate. All of this is leading to a profound lack of trust in policymakers and institutions and fostering a sense of alienation among citizens from the democratic process. This is why Debating Europe is on a mission to reimagine a democracy fit for the 21st century. One that fosters trust and empowers citizens to actively participate in shaping the strategic and policy decisions that will shape not only their lives but also the future for generations to come. Yesterday we asked leading experts in the field what their ideal democracy looks like and the answers varied. There was no consensus and today is no different. We asked: do you think lowering the voting age to 16 for all elections – be they local, national, European – would help to regenerate democracy?