Finland Times

The case of precision municipal election ads Laajasalo Helsinki, 19 October 2012. Photo Lehtikuva

The parliament is planning to reduce the age limit for the voters to 16 year to participate in the municipality polls, parliament sources said.

 

The secretaries  of the parliamentary parties will consider for making a proposal in favour of the voting right to the 16 year old people during the upcoming Automn  session of the parliament as a part of the municipality reforms bill.

 

Presently citizens who are 18 years old or above are eligible to cast votes in municipality, national and other polls.

 

The secretarial body will consider to bring changes in timing of the elections, sources said that the participation of the  people of 16 years and above  in other polls will be also considered.

 

“The secretaries of the parliamentary  parties will start their works from next month in this regard,” the parliamentary party leader of the largest party in the parliament, Kokoomus (National Coalition Part),

Taru Tujunen said on Thursday.

 

Municipal Election Ads Helsinki, 15 October 2012. Passers-by have a look at election posters in Helsinki, Finland, on October 15, 2012, ahead of local elections on Sunday, October 28, Photo Lehtikuva

Although Kokoomus  raised the issue of lowering the age limit for voting 2004, Tujunen, however, expressed doubt about acceptance of the proposal by the House. “Most of the young people, particularly the college level students live in their college area or home city. If they get their right to cast votes for the first time, it will be a good democratic habit for them,” believed the parliamentary party secretary of Keskusta (Center

Party), Timo Laaninen.

 

The government in its financial report pointed out to shift the municipality elections time to Spring as the earlier elections would help the newly elected representatives starting working session from summer.