MEDIA RELEASE

Report on lowering the Voting Age

An Assembly Committee recommends the voting age for territory elections remain at 18 years.

On 2 December 2021 Johnathan Davis MLA and Andrew Braddock MLA presented the Electoral Amendment Bill 2021, proposing to lower the voting age to 16 years for ACT elections.

The Justice and Community Safety Committee conducted an inquiry into the Bill, and today issued a report recommending that the Assembly not pass the Bill.  The committee suggests that the ACT Government instead explore alternative ways to further engage young people in the democratic process.

One of the committee members, Andrew Braddock MLA, presented a dissenting report.

A major theme in the inquiry was the fact that the Bill would compel young people aged 16-17 years to vote in ACT elections, and impose offences and penalties for non-compliance.

The committee received 18 submissions, and 438 people participated in an online survey.

The report is available at: <www.parliament.act.gov.au/parliamentary-business/in-committees/recent-reports>

18 February 2022

STATEMENT ENDS.

Committee Chair, Mr Peter Cain MLA on (02) 6205 1927

Committee Secretary, Brianna McGill, on (02) 6207 0524 or at LACommitteeJCS@parliament.act.gov.au