Editorial: why fear the votes of our very own kids?

Photo: Urmas Nemvalts

A month ago, to the day, 41 Riigikogu members launched a bill to alter the constitution. Yesterday, the government said yes. Aim of the amendment is for 16 and 17 year olds to obtain voting rights – as things stand, 18 is the threshold.

For the amendment to happen, two consecutive parliament compositions must agree. General elections come in spring 2015, so this Riigikogu composition basically has half a year to act. And should the next composition be on the same mind, at local elections in 2017 those 16 and 17 might go vote.

Why the amendment? What would be the minimal voting age? Goes without saying, babies, toddlers, and those yet unable to read would disqualify. But what’s the bottom limit?

While talking about maturity, the lines are somewhat blurred. What about brain functions, the «real life» experience, other kinds of responsibilities, knowledge of politics and society and the world in general? Would the right age be 25, 40 or 18? Should an exam be passed to get voting rights? Do the poor have any idea what some (economic) political options mean?

The poor have not paid taxes (enough). And the ladies, why would they vote – they will think like their fathers and husbands anyway (sounded a century-old argument).

Today, a democratic understanding is that elections should come as close as possible to expressing the composition of a society. In this light, the threshold should be as low as possible.

Some say the amendment would bring politics into the schools. Well, firstly, most of our 12^th graders are of voting age. Would tripling this very small number bring schools under some enormous pressure? Hardly. Are politics intrinsically evil, to be kept away from the youth? No.

Are the youth stupid? Very recently, they have passed their social education exams. The smart and the slow are found among the young and the old.

Voting rights for 16 year olds will hardly make Estonia worse. Rather, it may make life better for the young.