Francesca Rudkin: 16 year olds are capable, interesting and awesome- but should they be voting?

So at the beginning of the week, the Supreme Court declared the voting age of 18 in New Zealand is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act. In response the Prime Minister announced that legislation will be drafted for making the voting age 16; but any change would require the backing of three quarters of MPs, or a majority in a referendum. I live with a 16 year old, so naturally my first instinct was to look at him and his lovely mates – all really gorgeous young men – and think; should they be allowed to vote? They are intelligent, respectful, charming young adults, but my first response was ‘Hell No!’ I’ve heard their nonsense conversations over X-Box Games, their world views and I know what their priorities are right now. I also don’t believe they have the life experience or maturity to vote. I thought my son would be mortified to hear me say this, but interestingly he agreed. “Awful idea”, was his response. 16 years olds are not mature enough or care enough. They don’t think they will see the impact of their vote on their lives, and he thinks most 16 year olds would only be able to vote for what’s important to them, and not best for the country. I did mention 16 year olds wouldn’t be on their own there. Over the last few years I’ve had this conversation with quite a few young adults and it’s always amazed me how many of them didn’t think the age limit should be dropped. Interestingly, my 13 year old daughter said she’d love to be able to vote at 16, to use her vote to make a difference. But then she looked at her brother and thought maybe it’s best to keep the status quo. Obviously there are some 16 year olds out there I would be happy to let vote, and run my life. You may have one in your house. But we can’t cherry pick who should and shouldn’t be allowed to vote. So just when I thought we had a household consensus my partner entered the conversation with a ‘Hell Yes, let them vote.’ His view was that those that aren’t engaged won’t vote and those who were interested would so the quality of voting would be self-selecting, that lacking the cognitive ability to make an informed and thoughtful vote was probably just as prevalent in other demographics, and that as many people voted purely in their self-interest and often to the detriment of the future for younger New Zealanders the field should be levelled. As much as I think teenagers are capable, interesting and awesome people, I’m not sure he’s changed my mind. There is possibly one good outcome to letting 16 year olds vote – it might frighten the rest of the voting population into making the most of their right to vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.