Youths in New Zealand are asking their government to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.

Make-it-16, a youth-led organisation launched an online petition addressing the House of Representatives, demanding the government to lower the voting age to 16, in the 2022 Local elections. 

Peoples Gazette learnt about 701 out of 800 people had signed the petition as of 1:26 p.m. on Monday.

The youth group believes that if the voting age is lowered to 16, the country would have a stronger democracy to impact young people who are most impacted by the political decision.

“It will also help make current civics education in school more practical and prompt much-needed expansion of civics education,” the youth said in a statement attached to the petition.

The Youth-led organisation said New Zealand prides itself as leader of democratic reform, but the country would be left behind if the government failed to reduce the voting age.

The group noted that countries like Austria, Scotland had long benefited for having youth vote at age 16, with an increased turnout.

The youths have also dragged the government to court.

An excerpt of the petition reads, “Signing this petition supports Make it 16’s campaign to extend the vote in Aotearoa. We are also in the Court of Appeal on 5 August 2021 arguing that the current voting age is unjustified age discrimination,”