The announcement by the UK government that it plans to lower the voting age to 16 as part of changes to their electoral system highlights the lack of progress on this matter in Ireland.

In 2013, the Constitutional Convention recommended a reduction in the voting age to 16 and the then government subsequently proposed a referendum on the matter.

However, the 2020 programme for government merely committed to examining “the Scottish experience of reducing the voting age to 17 [sic]”.

It was, then, referred to the Electoral Commission, who designated a research priority in their research programme 2024-2026, following a public consultation process.

Additionally, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, in their 2016 and 2023 reports on Ireland’s efforts to meet its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (defined as persons under 18), recommended that a referendum be held on youth suffrage.

In the absence of government action, there have been several private members’ bills brought before the Oireachtas on extending the franchise for local and European elections to 16- and 17-year-olds.

Most of these have lapsed with the dissolution of previous Dáils and, although a recent bill was introduced, the slow and unlikely progress of such legislation means there will be no change for the foreseeable future.

How long will young people have to wait to join fellow youths in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Malta and soon the UK in being able to decide on who their political representatives are?

Dr Richard Scriven LLM