Should This Be Allowed?

Hi Global Recap readers,

The debate over lowering the voting age has been kicking around in political circles for a while now. One of the main arguments for it?

Boosting voter turnout.

However, from what I’ve seen:

• people tend to skip voting when they feel like the candidates are just more of the same and nothing’s really going to change,

• and they show up when they believe their vote could actually make a difference.

That said, there are definitely strong arguments for lowering the age too, and we’ll get into those in a bit. Don’t forget to weigh in with your own take in the poll below! 👇

🌐 WORLD
Fast Scroll News

🇷🇺 Russia Threatens West. Russia’s top security official Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow should be ready to hit the West with “preemptive strikes” if NATO ramps up support for Ukraine.

• This comes right after Trump threatened massive new tariffs and billions in weapons for Kyiv unless Putin agrees to peace in 50 days.

• Medvedev calls Western leaders “treacherous” and says the war is basically all-out.

🇨🇭 US Patriots Rerouted. Switzerland just got word its long-awaited US Patriot missile systems are being bumped down the line so Ukraine can get them first.

• Bern ordered five of these air defense setups back in 2022, set for delivery in 2026.

• Each Patriot setup runs about $1 billion.

• No word yet on how many units are affected or when Switzerland will get replacements.

🇮🇱 Israel Hits Gaza Church. Israel says it “deeply regrets” a tank strike that killed three people at Gaza’s Holy Family Church, the enclave’s only Catholic church and a shelter for its tiny Christian community.

• The IDF admitted the hit was accidental, blaming shell fragments.

• While Netanyahu told Trump it was a “mistake,” Pope Leo XIV called the attack a “military strike” and prayed for the victims, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, who was injured.

• This comes as ceasefire talks stall and Israel signals it might ease its stance on troop withdrawal from the Morag Corridor.

🇸🇰 Slovakia Unblocks Russia Sanctions. Slovakia’s PM Robert Fico just dropped his veto on the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, clearing the way for a Friday vote.

• He’d been holding out over a separate EU plan to phase out Russian gas by 2028, calling it “counterproductive,” but says Brussels gave him guarantees on gas prices and supply.

• The new sanctions hit Russia’s energy and banking sectors hard, cutting nearly two dozen banks from SWIFT, slashing the oil price cap to $45, and banning use of Nord Stream pipelines.

• EU ministers failed to pass it earlier this week, but now it’s back on track.

🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM
Teens Get the Vote

16- and 17-year-olds in the UK are about to get a say at the ballot box, and the rest of the world is watching to see if this really "boosts" democracy or just adds more noise.

How Did This Happen?

Ready or not, change is coming. The British government is rolling out legislation to drop the voting age from 18 to 16, calling it a “seismic” update to their democracy.

• The reforms also let people use bank cards as voter ID and tighten up political donation rules.

• The Labour Party campaigned on this promise, and with their House of Commons majority, it’s basically a done deal.

• Scotland and Wales already let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in some elections, but now it’s going UK-wide.

Why Now?

Low voter turnout and a push for fresh voices are driving this.

• Only 59.7% of voters turned out in the last election—the lowest since 2001.

• Around 1.5 million teens will be newly eligible.

• Deputy PM Angela Rayner says the reforms will “boost participation” and “strengthen the foundations” of society.

The Debate: Are Teens Ready?

Not everyone’s thrilled about letting 16-year-olds vote. Is it a smart move or a political gamble?

Critics:

• Critics argue that 16-year-olds lack the maturity and political understanding to vote responsibly, pointing to the inconsistency of allowing them to vote while still barring them from activities like drinking alcohol, marrying, or running for office.

• Some fear younger voters will skew liberal, questioning whether the government’s motives are muddled. However, the government insists it’s about democracy, not party advantage.

Supporters:

• Supporters point out that 16-year-olds can work, pay taxes, and even join the military—so why not vote?

• Polling shows 51% of 16- and 17-year-olds support the change, but just 18% say they’d “definitely” vote if there were an election tomorrow.

Does It Actually Work?

So, does lowering the voting age get more young people involved, or is it just a nice idea?

• A University of Edinburgh study found that younger first-time voters in Scotland are more likely to keep voting than older first-timers.

• Studies in Denmark and Austria back this up: start young, and voting becomes a habit.

  • Section 2 of the Austrian study is well-balanced and thoroughly referenced—definitely worth a read if you have the time.

  • The Danish “study” references the Austrian study to show that early voting is habit-forming.

• In the US, states that allow pre-registration at 16 see higher youth turnout.

📊 Poll

According to a 2019 poll, around 75% of Americans oppose lowering the voting age, and anecdotal observations seem to support this sentiment as well.

Younger People

• From what I’ve seen, many 16-year-olds are either disengaged from politics or tend to adopt liberal views, often due to peer pressure or a kind of groupthink.

• Reflecting on my own experience at that age, I thought I held independent political views, but in hindsight, they were largely regurgitated opinions shaped by my environment—adopted without much critical thought or deeper understanding.

Older People

While it’s true that even adults in their 30s and 40s can fall into similar patterns, older voters are generally thought to have a more well-rounded perspective or, at the very least, vote based on self-interest. In either case, this tends to reflect more stable and representative political engagement, aligned with the actual needs of the electorate.

What do you think, do you believe 16 year olds should be able to vote? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.