Personally, I don’t think most 16 year olds are mature enough to vote, and I also don’t think most of them would even be interested in voting.
There are studies to say that this leads to more participation. While a person is in school they are more likely to vote.
I have been working since 16, don’t see why younger me shouldn’t have had a say.
No. We have a cut off age and 18 for the remainder of adult life and it works.
Adolescence is going on longer and longer. If anything this was more appropriate in the 60s than now.
Fundamentally I disagree but at the same time if you can pay taxes you should be able to vote.
I think if you can be taxed on your wages at 16, are obliged to pay Social Insurance contributions and have to pay USC then you should have the ability to vote for a government that ultimately decides how these funds are dispersed…..it’s been many decades since I was 16 fwiw.
SF would definitely get in by a majority if they did this.
Not really in favour of this, but they can leave school at 16, learn to drive at 17, can’t drink legally till 18. The main argument against it in my my head is what the fuck did I know at 16. But what the fuck did I know at 18. Actually as I typed this I have an argument that tipped the balance: let kids be kids. They are 16 they hopefully shouldn’t need to be worried about crap like politicians and referendums when they turn 16. They have even stuff going on in their life, in 2 years time it is enough to start worrying about that crap. But if there is a good argument to allow will listen.
I’m delighted to see it! A 16/17 year old is often a lot more politically engaged than adults, they’ve got time to think about it more. Especially over the last few years they’ve been more and more involved in the process.
Plus, if the people who say sure they won’t use it are right – then what’s the harm? Nothing will change so.
Yes get them engaged while still in school.
Yes, you should get a choice in the manner in which your future is going to be screwed up and by whom. 😋
They should have a say in their future.I do believe they should be allowed.
I think 16 year olds definitely should have the option
They deserve the chance to influence something which will in turn influence their own education.
As it stands the only say we have in our education policy is from 18 when we are to have already decided on going to university or not
I’m a bit shocked at the backlash here in the comments. Everyone here saying that 16 year olds are stupid, easily brainwashed, not mature enough, etc. Having worked with teenagers I can tell you they are a lot wiser on social issues and have a lot more foresight than those making decisions. Give them some credit, they have grown up in the Age of the Internet. People love to complain about the government but when something that might change how we vote or could actually have an effect on results it’s shunned.
They can pay taxes, are arguably effected more by policy taken by government than by people who are getting older and older.
I’ve seen a lot of idiot 16 year olds, but equally as many idiot 32 year olds.
Let them vote.
Completely support this. I actually had a fair few teachers in school who brought up this idea with us, would have loved to have been able to vote then. Young voices matter.
Absolutely agree, they should be allowed vote.
I read something recently about how the economy is so broke now for young people because the baby boomer generation held all of the voting power due to the sheer number of them. I think this could actually be good to give the younger vote a boost in numbers to help drive policy changes that would benefit not just the older generations. Ireland’s not the best place for young people in a lot of ways and that’s evidenced by the amount of young people who emigrate every year.
More than letting 16 year olds vote, I’d prefer taking away the votes from older people.
They are making votes on things they won’t be around for, and the votes they make are not usually in the interest of the people who will actually have to live with them.
16 year olds should be allowed to vote because it usually affects them. Of the recent votes we have had like abortion, gay marriage and so on, I feel 16 year olds deserve a say.
I don’t see why they shouldn’t have a say especially when it comes to climate policies that will affect them directly
If this even gets to a referendum, which I doubt (I expect the second stage vote to defeat it) I’d bet the electorate would vote this down.
I definitely think it’s worth considering, especially for referendums. It was a little shitty being a closeted gay 17 year old having to listen to people debate about whether or not I deserve the equal right to marriage as a straight couple would, and not even getting to have my say even though it would impact MY future.
I’d imagine a lot of teenage girls felt the same too during the abortion referendum having to listen to men talk about what they shouldn’t do with their bodies, and then not being able to defend their bodily autonomy with a vote.
Yes. 16-17 year olds are way more active participants in politics than people think. No taxation without representation, ay?
My friends and I are the ones getting screwed over by successive governments’ housing promises. We’ll be least likely to buy a home and least likely to rent affordable when school is over. FFFG blocking this bill would just be to gain political points
We’re currently dealing with a housing crisis because the older demographic, who are typically home owners, make up the majority of the voting block and prioritise their own self interests of high house prices, high rents, and low construction rates.
A fairer society should reflect the views of all ages.
They’re old enough to work, so they’re old enough to contribute politically IMO.
FF,FG will be against it and Sinn fein will support is my hot take
No taxation without representation. Either 16yo should be allowed to vote, or they should be able to work without paying tax.
The current situation of putting 20+% of their wages into a fund that they have zero influence in how it is spent is not fair
I was very politically engaged at 16, and definitely wouldn’t have just voted for what my parents wanted like people are saying here. In fact I’m 19 now and my views are nearly the same and I can vote now. Teemagers who are into politics will vote and those who aren’t just won’t, they don’t have to. Teenagers aren’t in a vacuum, they know what’s going on in the world and might face struggles they’d want to vote to eliminate. I really don’t see much of a downside here.
I don’t see any reason not to do it.
​
I think it should be part of a civics class after 16 that they help every sign up to vote on the register. And if it is an election year running through the system before the election, looking at the candidates and actually walking with the kids to the voting station should be part of the school day.
Filling forms and all that jazz is a skill you need in life and it’s important so it should be covered in school.
No taxation without representation. More voices there are, arguably the fairer society is. And lets be fair. For those saying 16 year olds are too immature to vote, I know 30 year olds that far less deserve the right to vote.
​
My one issue would be parents heavily influencing their children’s vote but as if that doesn’t happen already anyway. I used to work as the guy who crosses the names of in your local primary school and countless people went in with their dads and just told them what names to put down. Right into their 20’s.
I think it would be good in that you could ensure that everyone is registered to vote before they leave school, and it could be integrated with civics lessons. The way it is now, people are expected to register themselves, with the result that there is lower registration among the poor
I was a fucking idiot at 16, was still one at 18 but definitely not to the same degree. I’d be against it.
Regardless it hasn’t a hope of passing anyway.
Yeah no. I wouldn’t trust myself at 16 to vote and I wouldn’t trust all the people I knew at 16 to vote. Just not mature enough
I used to think that young people should be given representation in government, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve become aware of just how easily manipulated people are; especially teenagers.
I think 18 is fine. Yes, it sucks to wait but those years you are waiting you can use to educate yourself on politics. At 16, you have enough to learn and you’re barely a fully developed person let alone wise enough to understand the concequence of some votes.
Don’t get me wrong, some 16 year olds are certainly more capable than some adults, but that is not the typical 16 year old
I’m mid 20s for disclosure.
We had a vote on this, thankfully it failed
No. Children don’t know what’s good for anything.
To anyone who think they shouldn’t vote because they’re too young to know anything, I can assure you as a political hack that, having canvassed thousands of houses in my time, they grown ups often don’t know anything either.
A 16 year has had no life experience. I honestly think they shouldn’t
Bad idea
Does that mean they can also be arrested and have some repercussions for anti-social behavior as well? If we are going to treat them like adults we should treat them like adults. I don’t think a group impervious to the law should be able to vote.
Christ no, most 16 year old I know are idiots. If anything raise it to 21.
Jesus the generation leaving college now haven’t a clue, let alone 16 year olds! If you’re not old enough to drink a pint legally you shouldn’t be able to vote
41 comments
Personally, I don’t think most 16 year olds are mature enough to vote, and I also don’t think most of them would even be interested in voting.
There are studies to say that this leads to more participation. While a person is in school they are more likely to vote.
I have been working since 16, don’t see why younger me shouldn’t have had a say.
No. We have a cut off age and 18 for the remainder of adult life and it works.
Adolescence is going on longer and longer. If anything this was more appropriate in the 60s than now.
Fundamentally I disagree but at the same time if you can pay taxes you should be able to vote.
I think if you can be taxed on your wages at 16, are obliged to pay Social Insurance contributions and have to pay USC then you should have the ability to vote for a government that ultimately decides how these funds are dispersed…..it’s been many decades since I was 16 fwiw.
SF would definitely get in by a majority if they did this.
Not really in favour of this, but they can leave school at 16, learn to drive at 17, can’t drink legally till 18. The main argument against it in my my head is what the fuck did I know at 16. But what the fuck did I know at 18. Actually as I typed this I have an argument that tipped the balance: let kids be kids. They are 16 they hopefully shouldn’t need to be worried about crap like politicians and referendums when they turn 16. They have even stuff going on in their life, in 2 years time it is enough to start worrying about that crap. But if there is a good argument to allow will listen.
I’m delighted to see it! A 16/17 year old is often a lot more politically engaged than adults, they’ve got time to think about it more. Especially over the last few years they’ve been more and more involved in the process.
Plus, if the people who say sure they won’t use it are right – then what’s the harm? Nothing will change so.
Yes get them engaged while still in school.
Yes, you should get a choice in the manner in which your future is going to be screwed up and by whom. 😋
They should have a say in their future.I do believe they should be allowed.
I think 16 year olds definitely should have the option
They deserve the chance to influence something which will in turn influence their own education.
As it stands the only say we have in our education policy is from 18 when we are to have already decided on going to university or not
I’m a bit shocked at the backlash here in the comments. Everyone here saying that 16 year olds are stupid, easily brainwashed, not mature enough, etc. Having worked with teenagers I can tell you they are a lot wiser on social issues and have a lot more foresight than those making decisions. Give them some credit, they have grown up in the Age of the Internet. People love to complain about the government but when something that might change how we vote or could actually have an effect on results it’s shunned.
They can pay taxes, are arguably effected more by policy taken by government than by people who are getting older and older.
I’ve seen a lot of idiot 16 year olds, but equally as many idiot 32 year olds.
Let them vote.
Completely support this. I actually had a fair few teachers in school who brought up this idea with us, would have loved to have been able to vote then. Young voices matter.
Absolutely agree, they should be allowed vote.
I read something recently about how the economy is so broke now for young people because the baby boomer generation held all of the voting power due to the sheer number of them. I think this could actually be good to give the younger vote a boost in numbers to help drive policy changes that would benefit not just the older generations. Ireland’s not the best place for young people in a lot of ways and that’s evidenced by the amount of young people who emigrate every year.
More than letting 16 year olds vote, I’d prefer taking away the votes from older people.
They are making votes on things they won’t be around for, and the votes they make are not usually in the interest of the people who will actually have to live with them.
16 year olds should be allowed to vote because it usually affects them. Of the recent votes we have had like abortion, gay marriage and so on, I feel 16 year olds deserve a say.
I don’t see why they shouldn’t have a say especially when it comes to climate policies that will affect them directly
If this even gets to a referendum, which I doubt (I expect the second stage vote to defeat it) I’d bet the electorate would vote this down.
I definitely think it’s worth considering, especially for referendums. It was a little shitty being a closeted gay 17 year old having to listen to people debate about whether or not I deserve the equal right to marriage as a straight couple would, and not even getting to have my say even though it would impact MY future.
I’d imagine a lot of teenage girls felt the same too during the abortion referendum having to listen to men talk about what they shouldn’t do with their bodies, and then not being able to defend their bodily autonomy with a vote.
Yes. 16-17 year olds are way more active participants in politics than people think. No taxation without representation, ay?
My friends and I are the ones getting screwed over by successive governments’ housing promises. We’ll be least likely to buy a home and least likely to rent affordable when school is over. FFFG blocking this bill would just be to gain political points
We’re currently dealing with a housing crisis because the older demographic, who are typically home owners, make up the majority of the voting block and prioritise their own self interests of high house prices, high rents, and low construction rates.
A fairer society should reflect the views of all ages.
They’re old enough to work, so they’re old enough to contribute politically IMO.
FF,FG will be against it and Sinn fein will support is my hot take
No taxation without representation. Either 16yo should be allowed to vote, or they should be able to work without paying tax.
The current situation of putting 20+% of their wages into a fund that they have zero influence in how it is spent is not fair
I was very politically engaged at 16, and definitely wouldn’t have just voted for what my parents wanted like people are saying here. In fact I’m 19 now and my views are nearly the same and I can vote now. Teemagers who are into politics will vote and those who aren’t just won’t, they don’t have to. Teenagers aren’t in a vacuum, they know what’s going on in the world and might face struggles they’d want to vote to eliminate. I really don’t see much of a downside here.
I don’t see any reason not to do it.
​
I think it should be part of a civics class after 16 that they help every sign up to vote on the register. And if it is an election year running through the system before the election, looking at the candidates and actually walking with the kids to the voting station should be part of the school day.
Filling forms and all that jazz is a skill you need in life and it’s important so it should be covered in school.
No taxation without representation. More voices there are, arguably the fairer society is. And lets be fair. For those saying 16 year olds are too immature to vote, I know 30 year olds that far less deserve the right to vote.
​
My one issue would be parents heavily influencing their children’s vote but as if that doesn’t happen already anyway. I used to work as the guy who crosses the names of in your local primary school and countless people went in with their dads and just told them what names to put down. Right into their 20’s.
I think it would be good in that you could ensure that everyone is registered to vote before they leave school, and it could be integrated with civics lessons. The way it is now, people are expected to register themselves, with the result that there is lower registration among the poor
I was a fucking idiot at 16, was still one at 18 but definitely not to the same degree. I’d be against it.
Regardless it hasn’t a hope of passing anyway.
Yeah no. I wouldn’t trust myself at 16 to vote and I wouldn’t trust all the people I knew at 16 to vote. Just not mature enough
I used to think that young people should be given representation in government, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve become aware of just how easily manipulated people are; especially teenagers.
I think 18 is fine. Yes, it sucks to wait but those years you are waiting you can use to educate yourself on politics. At 16, you have enough to learn and you’re barely a fully developed person let alone wise enough to understand the concequence of some votes.
Don’t get me wrong, some 16 year olds are certainly more capable than some adults, but that is not the typical 16 year old
I’m mid 20s for disclosure.
We had a vote on this, thankfully it failed
No. Children don’t know what’s good for anything.
To anyone who think they shouldn’t vote because they’re too young to know anything, I can assure you as a political hack that, having canvassed thousands of houses in my time, they grown ups often don’t know anything either.
A 16 year has had no life experience. I honestly think they shouldn’t
Bad idea
Does that mean they can also be arrested and have some repercussions for anti-social behavior as well? If we are going to treat them like adults we should treat them like adults. I don’t think a group impervious to the law should be able to vote.
Christ no, most 16 year old I know are idiots. If anything raise it to 21.
Jesus the generation leaving college now haven’t a clue, let alone 16 year olds! If you’re not old enough to drink a pint legally you shouldn’t be able to vote