Summary#
This bill lowers the federal voting age in Canada from 18 to 16. It updates the Canada Elections Act to change who is an elector and who is a “future elector,” and makes matching edits to related provisions.
- Lowers the voting age to 16 for Canadian citizens on polling day (Bill, s.3).
- Changes “future elector” to mean a Canadian citizen aged 14–15 (Bill, s.2(1) definition).
- Repeals a related subsection to align with the new age rules (Bill, s.22(5) repeal).
- Updates age references in compliance and registration provisions (Bill, s.281.3(a)(ii), s.281.3(b)(ii), s.549.1(1)(b)).
- Does not change ID, citizenship, or residency rules for voting (no amendments to those parts of the Act in the bill text).
What it means for you#
- Households
- If you have a 16- or 17-year-old who is a Canadian citizen, they would be able to vote in federal elections once the law is in force, as long as they are 16 or older on polling day (Bill, s.3).
- 14- and 15-year-old Canadian citizens could be listed as “future electors,” which supports pre-registration before they turn 16 (Bill, s.2(1) definition).
- Workers and students aged 16–17
- You would gain the right to vote in federal elections if you are a Canadian citizen and are 16 or older on polling day (Bill, s.3).
- You would need to meet the same voter identification rules as adults. The bill does not change ID requirements (no amendments to ID provisions in the bill text).
- Adult electors (18+)
- Your voting rights and processes stay the same. The bill only changes age thresholds.
- Candidates and political parties
- Who can vote changes; who can run for office is not addressed in this bill. The bill does not amend candidacy rules.
- Provinces, territories, and municipalities
- This bill affects only federal elections. Voting ages for provincial, territorial, and municipal elections are set by those governments and are unchanged by this bill.
Expenses#
Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.
- No fiscal note or official cost estimate located.
- The bill does not include an appropriation or new fees. It changes age thresholds in existing provisions (Bill, s.2(1), s.3, s.22(5), s.281.3, s.549.1).
- Any administrative costs for Elections Canada to update systems, lists, forms, and outreach are not specified in the bill text. Data unavailable.
Proponents' View#
- Expands the franchise to more Canadian citizens by lowering the voting age to 16, adding 16- and 17-year-olds to the electorate (Bill, s.3). Number of newly eligible voters in official documents: Data unavailable.
- Creates a clearer pathway from “future elector” (ages 14–15) to elector at 16, which may support earlier civic engagement and smoother first-time voting (Bill, s.2(1) definition). Assumes schools and families will reinforce civic learning.
- Keeps core safeguards in place. Citizenship, ID, and other election integrity rules remain unchanged by the bill (no amendments to those parts of the Act in the bill text).
- Aligns rights with responsibilities some 16- and 17-year-olds already have, such as working and paying income and sales taxes. Assumes that representation should track taxpaying and other adult-like responsibilities.
- International experience (e.g., Austria, Scotland) has found that 16–17-year-olds can participate at rates comparable to slightly older first-time voters. Data for Canada is not in the bill; external findings vary by context. Assumes similar patterns would hold in Canada. Data unavailable in Canadian context.
Opponents' View#
- Questions about readiness and informed choice for 16–17-year-olds; risk of lower turnout among new youngest voters, which could widen participation gaps. Evidence for Canadian federal elections is not provided in the bill. Assumption flagged. Data unavailable.
- Possible new administrative costs for Elections Canada to update the Register of Electors and processes, and to conduct youth-focused communications. No cost estimate is provided (Bill provides no appropriation). Implementation burden uncertain. Data unavailable.
- Privacy and data-handling risks for minors could rise as more under-18s move from “future electors” to the main elector register at 16. The bill does not detail privacy safeguards beyond existing law. Assumption flagged.
- Potential confusion because provincial, territorial, and municipal voting ages are set by other governments and may remain at 18 in many places, creating different rules across elections. Assumption: voters may mix up rules across jurisdictions.
- Political campaigning near schools and youth spaces may intensify, raising enforcement and non-partisanship concerns. The bill does not add new enforcement tools for such settings. Assumption flagged.