The age for voting should be decreased to 16 years?

On average, everyone disagrees with significant nonconsensus between 240 voters.

Reasons To Disagree

This just gives parents the opportunity to make their kids vote for who they are voting for. A 16 year old doesn't care about politics, and why should they! Heck, I voted for the first time this year, and the only reason i decided which candidate to pick, was by watching the news the night before voting day!!

No logic for this to happen. Voting would probably better suit people over 25. Lowering the voting age will achieve one thing only, a vigourous and ruinous introduction of student unions into secondary schools

There are simply too many issues that are over the heads of 16 year olds.

Let kids be kids and not worry about Adult issues until they have to.

17years they can choose better who they want to give vote than to be voter for politician

I dont think that children know enough to vote at this age and will be heavily influenced by their parents. Howevver, I do strongly believe that only those people in employment or paying taxes should be able to vote!

16 have proven that they are far too irresponsible to have the right to vote

Voting is such a pointless sop to the masses, it's no wonder even those enfranchised so often fail to exercise their hard won right. Giving this to mere children will only encourage politicians to pander to the immature desires of the iPod generation.

I firmly believe that few teenagers have sufficiently mature judgement to vote for a gummint. But then - considering the mob we've got - neither have the majority of adults!

Most 16 year olds are incapable of making their own sound choices in life. Have them uphold our already fallen country? NO

If they can vote then they should be able to fight for the country. At 16, people should still be in the education system, hence should still be learning and aquiring knowledge

This is totally irresponsible, if they are highlighting that kids now days are ignorant, why give them the vote. It will further degenerate society.

16 year olds are still discovering who they are and what they need. How can they know what their country needs? If we acknowledge 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote on matters crucial to our nation, then they should also be held accountable and tried as adults if they appear in court. Extend that responsibility with this 'right' and I will back it. Until then, no. Our kids are getting more rights but we're not holding them responsible. If they're mature enough to vote, then they should also be responsible.

i dont think 16 year olds should be allowed to vote,at this age they are still earning right from wrong in their own lives.im sure there are a few 16 year olds out there interested in politics and mature enough to vote but what about the rest of them?

They need to grow up first ...would not be of any benifit

I totally disagree majority of 16 year olds only care about how they look or being the most popular in school they dont need to be worried about politics!! I do agree however that some 16 year olds do have an interest in politics and are mature enough to make an informed discission but how ever majority are not.

From talking to my own children, the voting decision would be made for all the wrong reasons - my daughter would vote depending on the 'hottest' looking one! Is that a basis for national decision making?

Hell no. cant believe this is even up for debate youre all crazy.

16 is the age of consent im pretty sure that people who are 16 will soon be the future 18 year olds.. why make them wait to partake in important political matters of our country? We could dump them into silly laws that they would not like and would prefer to change or have an opinion on but can not.

Well if they pass this law then they would have more people voting against the parties for the drinking age rise. They already brought the 18-19 year olds against the. Do they really want the 16-17 year olds as well. Because there are a lot of them. :)

Crazy, what 16 year old is interested in politics?? I even think there is adults that shouldn't be allowed to vote haha.. Gov really need to make a decision on when you become an adult, sometimes its 16 sometimes its 18 and sometimes its 21. How confusing is this?? Make a decision and stick with it!

16 year olds will not be voting for the right reasons, thus will give in silly votes

No! I think the lack of information NZers of all ages know about politics is appaling. Some voters have little idea of why they are voting for the person. People tend to get more knowledge as they get older. I think schools should teach the basics about the voting system, parties and their policies. When I was 18 and voted I just copied my Mothers vote not really knowing what the parties policies were at all.

Most 16 year olds are ignorant of what's going on in their country

Too impressionable on their parents and their choices. Unfortunately for those genuinely interested they are the exception

Voting in an election where real outcomes are enforced is by definition is an act of force and as such should not occur.

The age should be 21, teenagers have not experienced full time working life yet.

Should be 20 young minds develop at different levels and 20 is where most can fully comprehend

Reasons To Agree

There are no doubt some 16 year olds interested enough and mature enough to vote. Equally, there are many people much older who pay no attention whatsoever and walk into the polling booth and cast a donkey vote. Perhaps the answer is to make voting like driving - only if you can correctly answer a multiple choice quiz you get to do it!

your old enough to sit exams that determine your future. your forced to pay tax you should be able to choose how much tax shouldnt you.

A great way idea give people the opportunity to learn about there nation early.

Why not. There are those who want to chuck them in jail at 10. Let them vote I say.

I am 16 and go to school with many more 16 and 17 year olds as could probably be expected. Arguments such as the fact that we will be greatly influenced by our parents are rubbish! sorry to say,but what makes you think that when someone turns 18 they will instantly break away from the environment and ideas they have been exposed to all their lives? Plus from observance, Many of us could probably agree that people are likely to vote for what is best for them and the country they have to live in. This is exactly what everyone else does so therefore this makes their vote just as reasonable as yours.

With so many teenagers now working and therefore paying tax, does it not seem right to also allow them to vote. I feel it is unfair to require those under 18 to pay tax while not giving them any say in how that tax is spent. It is decidedly undemocratic.

I agree because I am 16 years old and I should have the right to vote. We have to live in this world also and we might not like how the other person is considering their rights. We are young adults also and we should have the right to vote. We understand the requirements to vote.

Lower it to the age you start paying tax. I.e, the first time you buy something (GST). No taxation without representation. That, or no one under 18 pays tax.

Governments would have to actually listen to the youth vote, and decide based on that. How about we start taking rights and priverlages away from over 40's?

Apathetic and irresponsible voters outnumber rational voters everytime - I don't see what difference is going to be made by extending the franchise to 16 year olds.

Often parties make promises that do not take effect immediately. ie Labour wanted universal student loans but most people who could vote wouldn't have benifited from this. 16 year olds, however would and should be able to choose their government. Also, many 16 year olds work and pay tax etc.

Yes. As soon as you pay taxes, you should have a say in who you pay them to.

yes young people should have a say to

Over my dead body.

Anybody that is required by law to pay tax and is a New Zealand citizen should be allowed by law to vote.

You can leave school then. You can pay tax then. You can get married and have children then. Some people say 16 year olds should be tried as adults. You can die for your country at 17. So why shouldn't they be given the vote? It would also encourage more young people to vote, as many young people would still be under their parents' roof then, and so their parents could actively involve them.

This allows some space for parties to get more votes

It makes sense since they are at least a bit more mature then and being 16 is legally considered an adult, then it makes good sense