Voting Process - Students Typically Desire to Vote at Age 16; Teachers Remain Doubtful
In the European elections held on June 9th, Germany allowed young people aged 16 and above to cast their votes. The Federal Youth Conference now advocates for this same privilege to be granted in all future elections. Justifying their stance, General Secretary Louisa Basner said, "We believe it's sensible and boosts the political engagement of youth" in a conversation with the Funke Media Group's newspapers. By participating in democracy, young people can directly influence decisions.
Around 1.4 million 16- and 17-year-olds were eligible to vote in Germany's European elections in late 2023, as per the Federal Statistical Office. However, Basner criticized the inconsistency in how these elections are presented in political education courses. She pointed out that while the concept of voting rights is covered in the Basic Law, the link to the European election is not always made clear. "The extent to which these elections are discussed varies from class to class," she added.
The German Teachers' Association considers the change in voting age for European elections as a double-edged sword. Union President Stefan Düll remarked, "I'm conflicted about whether it was a good idea to bring down the voting age, but there are certainly many youths who are passionate about exercising their right to vote." Although some young people show great interest, others may not be as eager about politics. "Interest can't be enforced by the school," Düll emphasized, adding that family, society, and personal inclination all play a role. The school does its part in political education.
The Union President rejected the idea of allowing young people to vote in federal and state elections. "Taking on responsibility beyond oneself is something that requires maturity," Düll said. Twenty-year-olds only reach the age of majority at 18, after all. Germany's Youth Minister Lisa Paus (Greens), on the other hand, supports reducing the voting age in general.
Read also:
- Despite the success of allowing 16-year-olds to vote in the European elections in Germany, Berlin has yet to make a decision on lowering the voting age for federal and state elections.
- The Funke Media Group interviewed various educators in Berlin, including Stefan Düll from the German Teachers' Association, to gather their perspectives on the topic.
- In light of Germany's participation in the European election at age 16, some argue that engaging young people in the voting process fosters a sense of accountability and involvement in democracy.
- The European election marked an important milestone in promoting political education, with the addition of 16- and 17-year-olds joining the over 40 million eligible voters in the Federal Statistical Office's data.
- Louisa Basner, General Secretary of the Federal Youth Conference, is pushing for a change in law to lower the voting age for future elections in Germany, as demonstrated during the European election in 2023.
- As Europe continues to focus on enhancing democracy and promoting participation, the impact of lowering the voting age for young people in countries like Germany could serve as a model for other European countries to follow.
