Dáil to debate Soc Dems’ Bill on reducing voting age to 16 years

The Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ Bill on Thursday calling for a legislative pathway towards reducing the voting age from 18 to 16 years.

Kildare TD Aidan Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said “my Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years) Bill 2025 is an important piece of legislation designed to give young people a voice in our democratic process.

“Despite the fact that teenagers aged 16 and 17 years can work and pay taxes, provide care to loved ones, and consent to medical treatment, they do not have a right to vote.

“I believe this is of fundamental importance at a time when turnout in Irish elections is precariously low. In fact, research in other countries has shown that young people who are enfranchised at the age of 16 are more likely to vote than those who have to wait until they are 18.

“It’s also worth noting that in 2013, the first Report of the Convention of the Constitution recommended lowering the voting age to 16 in Ireland.

“Deciding the appropriate age to vote is an issue of fairness, not competence; of equality, not maturity.

“People aged 16 and 17 are as civically informed as their over-18 peers but are unjustly restricted when it comes to democratic participation.

“I welcome that my Bill will be progressing to second stage in the Dáil this week at a time when similar reform is occurring in the UK, with young people there from the age of 16 set to vote in the next general election.”