Lowering the Voting Age to 16: Learning from Real Experiences Worldwide

by Jan Eichhorn, Johannes Bergh

Overview

This book explores the consequences of lowering the voting age to 16 from a global perspective, bringing together empirical research from countries where at least some 16-year-olds are able to vote. With the aim to show what really happens when younger people can take part in elections, the authors engage with the key debates on earlier enfranchisement and examine the lead-up to and impact of changes to the voting age in countries across the globe. The book provides the most comprehensive synthesis on this topic, including detailed case studies and broad comparative analyses. It summarizes what can be said about youth political participation and attitudes, and highlights where further research is needed. The findings will be of great interest to researchers working in youth political socialization and engagement, as well as to policymakers, youth workers and activists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030325404
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	11/28/2019
Series:	Palgrave Studies in Young People and Politics
Edition description:	1st ed. 2020
Pages:	245
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Jan Eichhorn is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh, UK, and Research Director of the Berlin-based think tank d|part. His research focuses on political participation and attitudes with a particular emphasis on young people.

Johannes Bergh is Head of the Norwegian National Election Studies Program. He has led two research projects that studied the Norwegian trials with voting at 16. His research focuses on political behavior generally, but especially that of young people.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction (J. Bergh, J. Eichhorn).- 2. Consequences of Lowering the Voting Age to 16: Lessons from Comparative Research (M.N. Franklin).- 3. Understanding the Policy Drivers and Effects of Voting Age Reform (A. Mycock, T. Loughran, J. Tonge).- 4. Political Knowledge, Civic Education and Voting at 16 (H. Milner).- 5. Voting at 16 in Practice: A review of the Austrian Case (J. Aichholzer, S. Kritzinger).- 6. Does Voting at a Younger Age have an Effect on Satisfaction with Democracy and Political Trust? Evidence from Latin America (C. Sanhueza Petrarca).- 7. Votes at 16 in Scotland: Political Experiences Beyond the Vote Itself (C. Hubner, J. Eichhorn).- 8. Votes at 16 in Germany: Examining Sub-National Variation (A. Leininger, T. Faas).- 9. Modernizing Voting in a Post-Transition Country: The Estonian Experience of Lowering the Voting Age (A. Toots, T. Idnurm).- 10. Why did Young Norwegians Mobilize: External Events or Early Enfranchisement? (G. Odegard, J. Bergh, J. Saglie).- 11. Lowering the Voting Age from the Ground Up: The United States' Experience in Allowing 16-Year-Olds to Vote (J. Douglas).- 12. Conclusion (J. Eichhorn, J. Bergh).

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“I very much appreciate this volume, because so far there is very little theoretical literature on the urgent topic of earlier enfranchisement. The editors have succeeded in presenting an internationally comparative analysis for the first time.” (Prof Klaus Hurrelmann, Hertie School of Governance, Germany)

“This is a well-informed and well-balanced collection of concrete case studies from around the world about lowering the voting age. In a comprehensive way, it takes forward our understanding of the multiple issues at stake regarding votes at 16 and often sidelined young citizens.” (Dr Sarah Pickard, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, France)

“This is a much needed volume on a topic that is widely discussed both in public and in academia. The book gives an excellent and internationally comparative overview of theoretical arguments and empirical evidence for and against lowering the voting age.” (Prof Simone Abendschön, University of Giessen, Germany)