The proposal to lower the voting age to 16 has been regularly raised in the Czech Republic, but it is yet to go beyond a symbolic debate. Supporters point to the growing awareness and engagement of young people, while opponents warn that they lack life experience and are easily influenced. Although some European countries have already taken made similar strides, in the Czech Republic there is a lack of both political consensus and broader public demand, which raises the question of whether the call for such a change is sufficiently well thought out, or whether it is not more an attempt by some political actors to attract the attention of the younger generation.

Key takeaways:

• Arguments for and against: Supporters emphasize the civic responsibility of young people and equal rights, opponents point out immaturity and a lower level of awareness.
• International Experiences: The introduction of voting rights for young people has caught on in some countries, but it has not proven to be a miracle cure for the ills of democracy.
• Low political interest: Although the issue is occasionally discussed, it lacks support across the political spectrum and concrete legislative proposals leaving it with little chance of being implemented.

Policy Brief –Jan Rovenský

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.