Countries where under 18s can vote

Shawdesh desk:

Chief Adviser to the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Friday suggested that the minimum voter age should stand at 17 years, sparking significant discussion.

According to Article 122 of the Bangladesh Constitution, the minimum voting age is 18, granting every citizen aged 18 or older the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

Globally, several countries allow individuals under 18 to vote under specific conditions. These include:

Countries with voting age of 17

In several nations, the legal voting age is set at 17, allowing younger individuals to participate in shaping their governments. These countries include Sudan and South Sudan in Africa, where political engagement among youth is encouraged. In North Korea, despite its unique political system, the voting age is also 17. Similarly, in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, youth gain voting rights at 17. Greece and East Timor also grant voting privileges to citizens at this age, reflecting their emphasis on early civic participation.

Countries with voting age of 16

The legal voting age is 16 in Nicaragua, Scotland, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, and Austria. This has faced criticism, as many youths at this age have not yet entered the workforce or gained financial independence. In these countries, citizens can vote in all elections, including local, state, and national. Austria introduced this policy in 2007, becoming one of the first EU nations to include 16-year-olds in the democratic process, setting an example for others.

Dominican Republic, Hungary and Indonesia: In both the Dominican Republic and Hungary, individuals under 18 can vote if they are legally married. In Indonesia, although the voting age is 17, married individuals are required to vote regardless of their age. These provisions reflect legal frameworks that grant married minors full legal adulthood, allowing them to participate in elections.

Germany: In Germany, while the standard voting age for national elections remains 18, some states and local jurisdictions allow citizens to vote from the age of 16 in regional and municipal elections.

Estonia and Malta: In Estonia and Malta, citizens are allowed to vote from the age of 16, but this is restricted to local elections.

Slovenia: In Slovenia, citizens under the age of 18 are allowed to vote if they are employed. While the general voting age remains 18, this exception ensures that younger citizens contributing to the workforce are not excluded from participating in the democratic process.

These varying practices reflect the diverse approaches to defining electoral participation across the world, often shaped by cultural, legal, and social factors.