Lithuanian Parliament Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Allow 16-Year-Olds to Vote in Local Elections | WPN World People News

The Lithuanian Parliament held a preliminary vote on the 26th, with 78 votes in favor, 3 against, and 8 abstentions, initiating the constitutional amendment process to lower the eligible voting age for local mayoral and municipal council elections from 18 to 16.

Currently, both the Constitution and civil law of Lithuania set the voting and legal adulthood age at 18. The proposed amendment was introduced by Social Democratic Party MP Tomas Martinaitis, who argued that 16-year-olds should be granted voting rights to strengthen democracy and encourage youth participation in local governance. He stated, “Many young people leave their hometowns after turning 18. At 16, they are still closely connected to their communities, making it an ideal time for civic engagement.” He also pointed out that international experience shows that the earlier individuals participate in elections, the more likely they are to remain politically active in the future.

However, the proposal has faced opposition from conservative lawmakers. MP Audronius Azubalis argued that 16-year-olds are not mature enough to take on political decision-making responsibilities and criticized the move as “depriving young people of the process of becoming mature citizens.” The Parliament’s legal department also expressed concerns, noting that the Constitution should not be amended lightly and questioned whether there is currently a “compelling necessity” for such a change.

The proposed constitutional amendment must undergo committee review and be passed in two separate parliamentary votes, each requiring a two-thirds majority (at least 94 votes). Additionally, the two votes must be held at least three months apart. If successfully adopted, Lithuania would follow Estonia in becoming the second country in Europe to allow 16-year-olds to vote in local elections.