Lower federal voting age to 16
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to lower the federal voting age to 16 and work with provinces on civic education, youth policymaking, and encouraging similar provincial and municipal reforms. The government responds that law and the Charter set voting age at 18, noting pre‑registration and other youth participation options.
Why we would sign this petition
- Gives 16–17‑year‑olds a formal vote, improving representation for people who will live longest with government decisions and building civic habits while still in school.
- Requires coordinated civic education with provinces, which could better prepare young people to vote knowledgeably and sustain turnout.
- Elevates youth voices in policymaking, potentially reducing disengagement and ensuring policies reflect younger generations’ interests.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The Charter and Canada Elections Act currently set voting age at 18; lowering it may require complex legal or legislative changes and face constitutional challenges.
- Many argue 16–17‑year‑olds may lack sufficient maturity or life experience to make informed electoral choices, raising concerns about vote quality.
- Existing alternatives—pre‑registration, volunteering and civic programs—could be expanded to boost youth engagement without changing voting eligibility.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds across Canada are already taking on real responsibilities, from working part-time jobs and paying taxes, to driving, volunteering, and taking on family responsibilities; Young Canadians are informed, thoughtful, and actively involved in their schools, communities, and movements that shape our country’s future; Whereas large numbers of youth feel disenfranchised from civic life despite being disproportionately impacted in areas of public health, climate change, and affordability – contributing to polarization and thereby, the destabilizing of our democracy It is widely reported that youth being significantly underrepresented in civic engagement. A generational decline of civic engagement is detrimental to fighting misinformation and indeed, protecting national security; Extending the voting age to 16 would empower a new generation to participate in democracy while still in school, where habits of civic engagement are more easily built and supported; Austria, Scotland, and Brazil are examples of have shown that 16 and 17-year-olds being are ready to vote and this process strengthens overall democracy; and Civic engagement needs to be developed from a young age in collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners. We, the undersigned, Citizens Of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to 1. Introduce legislation to extend the federal voting age from 18 to: 16; 2. Collaborate with the provinces to develop civic education so that all students are equipped to participate meaningfully in elections; 3. Continue Canada’s commitment to advancing opportunities for youth to shape policies affecting their future; and 4. Encourage provinces, territories, and municipalities to consider similar reforms, so youth voices are heard at every level of government.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Signed by Kevin Lamoureux Canada’s electoral system sets the fundamental rules which determine how votes are translated into seats in the House of Commons. As such, it is one of the most foundational pieces of our democracy. At its core, it is about how we, as Canadians, govern ourselves. There are two important legal frameworks that govern who can vote in Canada. These frameworks help ensure the integrity of Canada’s electoral process. The first is Section 3 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which provides Canadian citizens with the right to vote in federal and provincial/territorial elections. The second is the Canada Elections Act, which is the law that governs all aspects of Canada’s elections, and which provides minimal requirements that must be met in order to be eligible to vote in Canada. To vote in a federal election, an individual must: be a Canadian citizen; be at least 18 years old on election day; and prove their identity and address. However, there are several ways in which young Canadians are able to participate in the democratic process, even before they are eligible to vote. For example, youth aged 14 to 17 who are Canadian citizens and live in Canada can pre-register to vote in federal elections by registering online to be added to Elections Canada’s Register of Future Electors. Once pre-registered, as soon as future electors turn 18, their information is automatically transferred over to the National Register of Electors, which is the national database of all Canadians who are qualified to vote. At the start of a federal election, Canadians included on the National Register are automatically sent a voter information card, with information on when, where and how to vote in their riding. In addition to pre-registering to vote, there are a number of other opportunities for Canadians of all ages to participate in democratic life, including by supporting a local candidate by volunteering, or joining a political party or stakeholder group, to advance interests that are of importance to them. In a healthy democracy, there is always more work to do, but Canadians have many reasons to be proud of their electoral system. The Government of Canada will continue to work to strengthen and protect our democratic practices and institutions to ensure they uphold Canadian values.