New NZ Government Will Not Drop Voting Age to 16

Local government elections will continue to be decided by those 18 years or over, after the new tri-party New Zealand government axed an Ardern-era initiative to drop the voting age. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown told the media last week the government did not support the Electoral (Lowering Voting Age for Local Elections and Polls) Legislation Bill, requesting the Justice Committee to end consideration of it. In 2022, the Ardern-led Labour government agreed, in principle, to consider lowering the voting age in local elections as a test towards lowering the age for national elections. Mr. Brown said ratepayers and residents expected their local council to stick to the “core business of efficiently and effectively delivering local infrastructure and services.”...