Only those who are old enough to file their tax return should be allowed to vote; says one side. When it comes to decisions for the future, young people must be able to have a say; says the other side.
And science says: Not much would change with the voting age of 16 anyway.
The population of the canton of Zurich will vote on May 15 to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. The minimum age for election to public office would still be 18, which means that a 16-year-old cannot become a municipal councilor. At the end of 2021 there were 22,731 16- and 17-year-olds with Swiss citizenship in the canton of Zurich. They would make up 2.4 percent of those entitled to vote and vote.
Left and center parties as well as the government council, the majority of the cantonal council and the Zurich youth parliament support the proposal, it is opposed by the FDP, SVP and EDU. The young parties are similar. The project is opposed by the JSVP and the Young Liberals.
Affected by the future
For the proponents, there are two main reasons for the voting age from 16 years: It is important for democracy to strengthen the participation and political interest of young people. Also because life expectancy continues to rise, young people are becoming less and less important compared to the rest of the population. In addition, important political decisions will affect young people in the future: be it retirement age, tax issues or climate change. “People who have been affected by decisions the longest should also have a say,” says Laura Fischer, co-president of Juso Kanton Zürich. The 22-year-old is involved in the Yes Committee and is studying philosophy and political science at the University of Zurich.
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Laura Fischer became a member of Juso at the age of 18. Migration is a topic that worries her a lot, also because her mother is a child of Italian guest workers. (Photo: zvg)
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The Juso would have no problem with youngsters, but this template would have a self-reinforcing effect. “We hope that interest in politics will increase among young people,” says Fischer. She also sees new opportunities for parties among 16 and 17-year-olds: parties – not just young parties – could, for example, collect signatures for their concerns in front of vocational schools and high schools.
criticism of the counter-campaign
In Glarus, 16-year-olds have had a say since 2007. Otherwise, the lower voting age has not yet been established in Switzerland. Such a vote has already failed in various cantons. In the canton of Berne, a vote on a voting age of 16 is expected to take place in the autumn. Nevertheless, Laura Fischer seems positive. And if it doesn’t work at cantonal level – then at national level. Because the reduction is also an issue: on March 16, the National Council said yes to the voting age of 16 with 99:90 votes. The responsible committee is currently working on a concrete template.
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Nevertheless, a no on May 15 would disappoint the Juso president: “The no camp has reservations about young people and they are once again stoking fears. They work with false photos and false statements.” Fischer is alluding to the No campaign. Don’t pay taxes, but decide on a tax increase? “What the fuck? The voting age of 16 makes zero sense!” says 16-year-old Sofie on the Website of the No Committee. Only this Sofie does not exist and that caused criticism. The statements are invented and the pictures from an agency, it says 20 minutes.
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Whoever pays taxes should vote – including foreigners?
For Lea Sonderegger, vice-president of the Jungfreisinnigen canton of Zurich and FDP councilor in Dietikon, these allegations are unfounded. The stock photos were just one of many campaign elements. The No camp would have broad support from young people.
The campaign may cause criticism, but it sums up the main argument of the opponents: rights cannot be separated from duties. “Anyone who can have a say and vote must also fulfill their obligations, such as paying taxes,” says Sonderegger. The 18-year-old was previously on the board of the youth parliament for two years and will graduate from high school this summer.
But the equation “Those who pay taxes have a say” is not that simple. A group that pays taxes but is not allowed to vote is, for example, foreigners in Switzerland. When asked if she would be in favor of foreigners voting rights, Sonderegger did not want to comment. The Young Liberals had no position paper on this.
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Laura Fischer does not understand that a party that values freedom and personal responsibility is against voting and election rights from the age of 16. “16 and 17-year-olds want to contribute according to their personal responsibility and freedom. Now the same parties that proclaim these values for themselves at every opportunity are opposed to it,” says Fischer. Sonderegger, on the other hand, sees precisely this personal responsibility as a reason against the template: “We are only fully responsible for all our decisions from the age of 18.”
Sobering words from science
Fischer hopes that this vote will rejuvenate politics. «Poster subjects, slogans and voting material are often intended for 57-year-old median voters. A yes to the voting age of 16 would provide an opportunity to generally address the younger generations more with campaigns, »says the Juso politician.
However, it is unlikely that the boys would suddenly rush to the ballot box in droves. “Young people and young adults take less part in politics than older people,” says Daniel Kübler, Professor of Democracy Research and Public Governance at the University of Zurich.
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He is also head of the Department for General Democracy Research at the Center for Democracy Aarau (ZDA). A study by the ZDA examined political participation in Glarus. The younger a person is, the less involved they are in political events, says the political scientist. And that’s why not so much would change if 16-year-olds were now able to have a say: “16- and 18-year-olds both belong in the age group that doesn’t get involved much. So that hardly matters. For example, voting behavior did not change much after 1991, when the voting age was changed from 20 to 18.”
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Kübler is for the voting age from 16 years: “From a pragmatic point of view, there is nothing that speaks against the reduction.” He has a certain understanding of the argument that rights and obligations cannot be separated. «At the age of 16 you are not of legal age, but you are capable of judgement. The reduction to 16 is therefore justifiable,” he adds.
The understanding of democracy is much more important in this vote. “Inclusiveness is a feature of a good democracy. Everyone who is affected should also have a say, »says Kübler. He would also be in favor of voting and election rights for foreigners.
Whoever knows goes to the ballot box
The Young Liberals of the Canton of Zurich have unanimously voted no. A year ago, the 18-year-old Vice President would have believed herself capable of electing and voting: Politics has been her hobby since she was 15 years old. Those young people who are interested in politics are also capable of making decisions. “But most of them are not interested in politics and accordingly do not have the necessary knowledge and do not question critically,” says Lea Sonderegger.
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Political skills are important, Laura Fischer agrees. “People of all ages go to the ballot box without knowing the details of the templates,” adds Fischer. This should be counteracted by more political education. “But a democracy is also characterized by the fact that one is given the right to vote and to be elected without proof of competence.” The same standard should therefore apply to 16 and 17 year olds as to over 18 year olds. She finds the claim that young people have to know everything in order to go to the polls unfair.
For Lea Sonderegger, it is clear that more investment in political education is the better method than the voting age of 16 to increase voting participation among young people. Laura Fischer and Daniel Kübler, on the other hand, are also calling for more political education, but also for the right to vote from the age of 16. Because young people are able to form their own opinions if they have enough political knowledge.
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