Lower voter age to 16?

Photo: The Canadian Press

The BC Green Party hopes the third time's a charm.

Leader Andrew Weaver is taking a third stab at lowering the voting age in B.C. to 16. He introduced a private member's bill in the legislature Tuesday.

“Young British Columbians have the greatest stake in the future of our province. They should have a say in the decisions our politicians make,” said Weaver.

“Yesterday, Elections BC announced that only 56.24 per cent of 18-24 year olds and 46.35 per cent of 25-35 year olds voted in our last provincial election," Weaver said. "Voting rights have been extended to 16 year-olds in Scotland, Argentina, Austria and Brazil. Evidence from those jurisdictions shows that enfranchising these young voters has led to substantially higher levels of political participation."

Weaver says research shows cognitive skills required to make calm, logically informed decisions are firmly in place at 16.

"Young citizens of British Columbia are old enough to drive, pay taxes and sign up for the military. They are also the leaders of tomorrow.

"They should have a say in the direction we are heading, as they will inherit what we leave behind. B.C. should take this chance to strengthen our democracy and lower the voting age to 16.”