• Lembot_0004@discuss.online
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    1 day ago

    Is it considered good? I don’t think many people at 16 really care about politics. But I am absolutely sure that there are many imbeciles at 16 who would vote even for a goat “just for giggles”.

    • JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Dunno. Those older people don’t seem to be doing such a great job either. See the current us and, yes, Brexit, if it’s more relevant.

    • rumimevlevi@lemmings.worldOP
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      1 day ago

      turnout of 16- to 17-year-olds in the Vienna elections was estimated to be 64.2% and thus significantly and substantially higher than the turnout of 18–20-year-olds, which was 56.3%. In Krems turnout of 16- and 17-year-olds was 56.3% and substantially higher than turnout of older first-time voters (46.3%)

      Are People More Inclined to Vote at 16 than at 18? Evidence for the First-Time Voting Boost Among 16- to 25-Year-Olds in Austria

    • Fabian@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      In Germany you can also vote in most elections at 16. And you can also vote for the European Parliament with 16. I think that is good, since the people who are currently young will be most affected by many of the decisions taken now. It also recognizes that the young people are also important and encourages political participation from a young age. And nobody is forced to vote, so people who are disinterested in politics will just note vote.

      • Dicska@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        It might be just my subjective perspective, but to me it feels like 16 year olds are much easier to radicalise, or be fed half truths. They are in the age when you feel like you want to change the world, but you might also still believe in fairy tales and/or simplified scenarios. I hope I’m either wrong or this change won’t go through, but I’m getting “propaganda audience” vibes.

      • damdy@lemmings.world
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        22 hours ago

        This was part of the reasoning for lowering the age. They can already join the military, pay taxes, provide care for family members etc. They should have a voice in politics.

        I don’t believe they can be sent to actually fight until 18 though.