Mon, 10 Feb, 2014 12:47:50 AM FTimes-STT Report, February 10  The case of precision municipal election ads Laajasalo Helsinki, 19 October 2012. Photo Lehtikuva. The decision to lower the voting age limit from 18 to 16 years is unlikely to be realized, despite an understanding reached by the political parties earlier on this regard, reported a leading Finnish-language newspaper, Kaleva, on Sunday.
Niklas Wilhelmsson, a senior panning officer of the Ministry of Justice, said the issue of lowering the voting age was not under consideration at the moment.
"It is now a buried idea. Of course the matter might be brought up again, if the next government feels so or if there is a change of thought." said Wilhelmsson.
The issue was deliberated last July by parliamentary party secretaries on having the age limit of voters participating in municipal elections lowered to 16.
It was however agreed upon that no changes should be made on having the voting age limit reduced.
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. Evangelical Lutheran Church set the voting age limit at 16 for its parish elections during its 2010 autumn elections.
Citizens who are 18 years old or above are currently eligible to vote in municipality, national and other polls.
Earlier, in July 2013, the parliament planned to reduce the age limit for voters to 16 year for the municipality polls.
The secretaries of the parliamentary parties were considering on a proposal allowing voting rights to 16-year-olds as part of the municipality reforms bill.
Kokoomus (National Coalition Party), the biggest component of the six-party alliance government, first raised the issue in 2004.
Later, the leaders of the main opposition Keskusta (Center Party) also decided that it would be a good democratic habit for the youth to get voting rights at 16 years of age.
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