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Australian politician wants to lower the voting age to 16

Xinhua, May 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Australian politician on Thursday was reported to believe people as young as 16 years old should be allowed to vote in government elections.

The Sydney politician Jodi McKay told the New South Wales parliament that people as young as 16 should be allowed to vote, below the current level of 18.

"The fact that these young people are unable to have an immediate say on the future of education, on TAFE (the local vocational school system), on the environment, on health services and public transport, I believe does us a disservice," McKay said.

The left-wing Labor politician will ask the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to look at the issue and consider lowering the voting age, even on a voluntary basis, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. Endi