The voter age should remain at eighteen

The Elections Canada website shows that nationwide the voter turnout in young adults aged eighteen to twenty four has increased by over twenty percent in the last federal election, compared to previous ones. Still, this is the lowest voter turnout compared to all the other age groups. Many adolescents lack interest and knowledge of politics; we are uninformed and have greater priorities to focus on. In schools political studies are not prioritized; leaving teenagers uneducated on a critically important subject. The majority of young people are preoccupied academically, with work, extracurriculars, and socially; very few of our peers spend their free time following and keeping update to date with politics.

This year I have been presented with the incredible opportunity to become a page for the legislative assembly of Prince Edward Island. This means when the members of government and opposition sit to discuss issues, create laws and make decisions, I am able to watch this process first hand while assisting them with daily duties. As a result of this experience I have obtained a deeper understanding regarding the way legislature functions and politics in general. Reflecting on my previous knowledge of politics compared to now, I feel that I am currently more capable of making an educated vote. Whereas, not all sixteen and seventeen year olds are, many are remarkably oblivious to political issues surrounding them.

Last week at the legislature the leader of the third party, Peter Bevan Baker attempted to amend the bill for the Election Age Act; reducing the voting age from eighteen to sixteen, which would also allow sixteen year olds to be elected as members into the legislative assembly. This was not passed, because the rest of the house voted against him, due to many sensible reasons; such as teenagers not being mature enough to vote, it would be conflicting with many laws such as the Young Offenders Act, and also for the fact that allowing voting at the age of sixteen is not common amongst other places.

By allowing teens to vote, there would be a conflict of interest with multiple other laws and regulations, such as elections in municipalities and the Young Offenders Act. The Young Offenders Act is a series of laws that take place when a youth under the age of eighteen commits a crime violating the criminal code of Canada. The reason this exists is because the justice system believes that young people are not mature enough, compared to adults to understand the repercussions of their actions; this act ordains minimum consequences or sentencing on youth. Within this act all records are sealed and destroyed, prohibiting the publication of the identity of the youth who committed the crime. This means that no one other than government departments can know if a youth has a criminal record, in order to respect their privacy. Hypothetically if a youth has a criminal record and runs in the election the public could not be informed of it; by having an irresponsible candidate with a record attempting to represent a district it could potentially influence the way in which a voter would vote in a negative manner. If a sixteen year old is not mature enough to accept the total consequences for their actions, then how are they suppose understand the impacts of their vote. To prevent this conflict the simplest solution would be to not allow citizens under the age of eighteen to vote.

Recently here on Prince Edward Island, in November 2016 a plebiscite on electoral reform was conducted; which is a public vote based on personal preferences. This presented sixteen and seventeen year olds with an opportunity be eligible to vote for the first time in order to have their say on how future elections are administered. The information collected by Elections PEI show that there was approximately four thousand Islanders in the sixteen to seventeen age category eligible to participate. However, only two thousand and sixty eight registered to vote, while only thirty two percent of the two thousand voted. Which means only approximately fifteen percent of youth actually took the time to cast their vote. These results just show the lack of interest and initiative in Island teens.

In all of North America the legal voting age is eighteen years old. An article in MacLean's magazine that was published in 2010, discusses why the voting age should not change. Many teenagers do not think rationally, and struggle with making logical decisions in regards to the future; especially when it not only involves their personal future but the rest of their provinces too. A result of being a teenager is impulsive behavior, we are easily influenced and change our minds constantly, this proves that we are incapable of making a responsible and realistic vote. Voting is enormously important and has to be taken seriously, the majority of sixteen and seventeen year olds are not adequate candidates to take on this duty.

Young people under eighteen are not allowed to purchase alcohol or tobacco, drive without restrictions, rent a hotel room or car, consent without parent permission, have a credit card, and there continues to be many other reasons. Since so many professionals feel that sixteen and seventeen year olds are not matured, and responsible enough to partake in so much, then they should not be able to vote in elections, let alone be able to be elected as an MLA into the Legislative Assembly. There is reason why the voter age is set at eighteen, and due to that it should remain status quo. Thank you for the opportunity to influence your opinions on the legal voting age.