Voting at 16

Turnout and the quality of vote choice

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4170058
AutoresMarkus Wagner (0000-0002-0036-1266, University of Vienna), David Johann (0000-0002-8970-9686, University of Vienna), Sylvia Kritzinger (0000-0003-2765-8200, University of Vienna)
Año2012
Volumen31
Número2
Páginas372-383
Fecha de publicación2012-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaElectoral Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0261-3794 • E-ISSN: 1873-6890
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.electstud.2012.01.007
PMID24850994
PMCIDPMC4020373
OpenAlexW2097443284
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas66
Referencias citadas38

Critics of giving citizens under 18 the right to vote argue that such teenagers lack the ability and motivation to participate effectively in elections. If this argument is true, lowering the voting age would have negative consequences for the quality of democracy. We test the argument using survey data from Austria, the only European country with a voting age of 16 in nation-wide elections. While the turnout levels of young people under 18 are relatively low, their failure to vote cannot be explained by a lower ability or motivation to participate. In addition, the quality of these citizens' choices is similar to that of older voters, so they do cast votes in ways that enable their interests to be represented equally well. These results are encouraging for supporters of a lower voting age

Argument (complex analysis · Democracy · Demographic economics · Economics · Group voting ticket · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Quality (philosophy · Spoilt vote · Test (biology · Turnout · Voting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Medicine · Populism, Right-Wing Movements · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies