The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification of Administrative Processes, Julia Farrugia Portelli, has launched a Public Consultation on the vote for 16-year olds, entitled – Empowering Youth.

The Parliamentary Secretary, said that in line with the Government’s electoral manifesto pledges, commissioned the necessary work to explore and identify the way forward for the introduction of the right to vote in General and European Parliament elections for 16 year olds.

She explained that the plan to include more representation in the national decision process could improve the democratic process by allowing a new generation to contribute towards the decisions that the nation will make.

“Therefore, the next step after giving 16 year olds the right to vote in the Local Council Elections, is to extend this right in the European Parliament Elections and the General Elections.”

Initial consultation was carried out with various stakeholders and local NGO’s operating within the field.

The public consultation process will enable all Maltese citizens to participate in the development of this initiative, together with all youth organisations and political parties.

In the consultation document another question asked is – should 16 and 17-year olds contest the Local Council elections, with the opportunity of also becoming Mayors?

Submissions must be sent in by the 7th of October, by filling the online form and sending by email: vote16.opm@gov.mt or by post: Vote 16+ Public consultation Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Citizenship and Simplification, Auberge de Castille, Valletta.

The consultation document is available for download in English here, and Maltese here.

Photograph: DOI/Omar Camilleri

Permalink: Public Consultation launched – Vote for 16-year olds in Malta