Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Lowering the Voting Age to 16

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Young People and Politics ((PSYPP))

  • 1712 Accesses

Abstract

This introductory chapter outlines the rationale for the book. This is the first volume that brings together empirical research from many countries that have lowered the voting age and embeds these case studies in discussions of theoretical and conceptual questions surrounding earlier enfranchisement. The chapter reviews the key contestations around the issue and discusses the arguments put forward by proponents and opponents of allowing 16-year olds to vote. Taking into account analytical implications from this review, it then describes the structure of the book and provides an overview of the contributions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bergh, J. (2013). Does voting rights affect the political maturity of 16- and 17-year olds? Findings from the 2011 Norwegian voting-age trial. Electoral Studies, 32(1), 90–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatti, Y., & Hansen, K. (2012). Leaving the nest and the social act of voting: Turnout among first-time voters. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, 22(4), 380–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, T., & Clayton, M. (2006). Should the voting age be lowered to sixteen? Normative and empirical considerations. Political Studies, 54, 533–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, P. (2013). Against a minimum voting age. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 16(3), 439–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowley, P., & Denver, D. (2004). Votes at 16? The case against. Representation, 41(1), 57–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, R. (2014). Citizen politics: Public opinion and political parties in advanced industrial democracies (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, R., & Wattenberg, M. (2002). Parties without partisans: Political change in advanced industrial democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dassonneville, R., Quintelier, E., Hooghe, M., & Claes, E. (2012). The relation between civic education and political attitudes and behavior: A two-year panel study among Belgian late adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 16(3), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinas, E. (2012). The formation of voting habits. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, 22(4), 431–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichhorn, J. (2018). Votes at 16: New insights from Scotland on enfranchisement. Parliamentary Affairs, 71(2), 365–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichhorn, J., Paterson, L., MacInnes, J., & Rosie, M. (2014). Results from the 2014 survey on 14–17 year old persons living in Scotland on the Scottish independence referendum. Edinburgh: AQMeN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Electoral Commission. (2003). How old is old enough? The minimum age of voting and candidacy in UK elections. London: Electoral Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Electoral Commission. (2014). Scottish independence referendum: Report on the referendum held on 18 September 2014. Edinburgh: Electoral Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fieldhouse, E., Trammer, M., & Russel, A. (2007). Something about young people or something about elections? Electoral participation of young people in Europe: Evidence from a multilevel analysis of the European Social Survey. European Journal of Political Research, 46(6), 797–822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folkestad, B. (2015). Korleis gjekk det i kommunane som gjennomførte forsøket med nedsett røystealder i 2011? Bergen: Uni Research Rokkansenteret, Stein Rokkan senter for flerfaglige samfunnsstudier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, M. (2004). The dynamics of electoral competition since 1945. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, D., & Atkins, R. (2011). American sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds are ready to vote. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political Science, 633(1), 201–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • House of Commons. (2017). Representation of the people (young people’s enfranchisement and education) bill. 3 November 2017, Volume 630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C., & Marshall, B. (2004). Political engagement among young people: An update. Research paper by the Electoral Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenealy, D., Eichhorn, J., Parry, R., Paterson, L., & Remond, A. (2017). Publics, elites and constitutional change in the UK: A missed opportunity? Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDevitt, M., & Chaffee, S. (2000). Closing gaps in political communication and knowledge: Effects of a school intervention. Communication Research, 27, 259–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pickard, S. (2019). Politics, protest and young people. Political participation and dissent in Britain in the 21st century. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prior, M. (2010). You’ve either got it or you don’t? Stability of political interest over the life cycle. The Journal of Politics, 72(3), 747–766.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quintelier, E. (2007). Differences in political participation between young and old people. Contemporary Politics, 13(2), 165–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quintelier, E., & Hooghe, M. (2011). Political attitudes and political participation: A panel study on socialization and self-selection effects among late adolescents. International Political Science Review, 33(1), 63–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syversten, A., Wray-Lake, L., Flanagan, C., Osgood, D., & Briddell, L. (2011). Thiry-year trends in U.S. adolescents’ civic engagement: A story of changing participation and educational difference. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(3), 586–594.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tonge, J., & Mycock, A. (2010). Citizenship and political engagement among young people: The workings and findings of the youth citizenship commission. Parliamentary Affairs, 63(1), 182–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torney-Purta, J. (2002). The school’s role in developing civic engagement: A study of adolescents in twenty-eight countries. Applied Developmental Science, 6(4), 203–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torney-Purta, J., & Vermeer Lopez, S. (2006). Developing citizenship competencies from kindergarten through grade 12: A background paper for policymakers and educators. Denver: Education Commission of the States.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, M., Johann, D., & Kritzinger, S. (2012). Voting at 16: Turnout and the quality of vote choice. Electoral Studies, 31, 372–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaff, J., Hart, D., Flanagan, C., Youniss, J., & Levine, P. (2010). Developing civic engagement within a civic context. In M. Lamb & A. Freund (Eds.), The handbook of life-span development (2nd ed.). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeglovits, E., & Aichholzer, J. (2014). Are people more inclined to Vote at 16 than at 18? Evidence for the first-time voting boost among 16–25-year-olds in Austria. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 24(3), 351–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeglovits, E., & Zandonella, M. (2013). Political interest of adolescents before and after lowering the voting age: The case of Austria. Journal of Youth Studies, 16(8), 1084–1104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Social Research, Oslo, Norway

    Johannes Bergh

  2. Social Policy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Jan Eichhorn

Authors
  1. Johannes Bergh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Eichhorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan Eichhorn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Social Policy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Jan Eichhorn

  2. Institute for Social Research, Oslo, Norway

    Johannes Bergh

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bergh, J., Eichhorn, J. (2020). Introduction. In: Eichhorn, J., Bergh, J. (eds) Lowering the Voting Age to 16. Palgrave Studies in Young People and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32541-1_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation