Would giving 16-year-olds the vote improve democracy or just change the way campaigns are run?

Hello,

This topic has been echoing throughout our streets. Everywhere you go, you hear the same arguments. “What a silly idea,” some people say. “Kids shouldn’t vote in adult elections — they don’t understand life yet.” Others simply reply: “Why not?”

Have you ever wondered why this topic causes so much noise? If not, let’s dig deep into the issue!

To start up, you will first need to know how it all started: countries like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Cuba were pioneers of letting 18-year-olds vote, then European countries — like England and Austria — followed their lead so 16-year-olds could vote too. If you read the news, you would see that 60% of young voters participate in national elections. But why would they do that? Also, why I think it is the right decision?

Seeing the world differently

This simply means 16-year-olds are considered much younger than 21-year-olds, so they see the world differently. To be more precise, if you were 21 years old, you would probably think of getting a job, looking for a new home, and maybe sometimes thinking about marriage. But if you were 16 years old, you think of improving how your family treats you, education, school stress, and friendships.

Did you notice a difference, even a tiny one? From their experiences, we can see the challenges 16-year-olds face — problems the country might never have understood, even if they seem “childish.” Democracy needs a clearer view of what they are going through.

If 16-year-olds vote, politicians can’t just talk about taxes and the economy on TV. They will have to engage on TikTok, YouTube, and in schools. They will need to discuss climate change and mental health, transforming elections into technology-driven campaigns.

An Egyptian series that showcased that problem was Midterm, which talks about a teen (Tia) who just entered college. We see the problems she goes through, like family issues and loneliness. This reflects what many 16-year-olds feel. If Tia had a vote, politicians would be forced to create policies for schools and student rights. Her “childish” problems would suddenly become “political priorities.”

The real question is not whether 16-year-olds are ready to vote, but whether democracy is ready to hear them.