LOWERING THE VOTING AGE to 16 Triin Bõstrov Vice Chairman of The Board of Estonian National Youth Council

Outline Overview of the ENL Background of Current campaign – why? Lobbying Cooperation Foreign experience Recommendations Conclusion Q+A

Estonian National Youth Council, established in 2002, is an umbrella organization connecting: 44 youth organizations 15 county youth councils 70 local youth councils ENL is a member of the European Youth Forum and the Network of Estonian Non-Profit Organizations Our members - National-international, political, school student and student associations, local, hobby organizations and youth councils

Estonian National Youth Council has been lobbying lowering the voting age to 16 since 2007 –Our main purpose is to lower the voting age to 16 at 2017 local elections Estonian National Youth Council and official documents: –2007 “Estonian National Youth Council youth policy positions: youth participation” –2010 “Estonian National Youth Council youth policy platform” (old redaction) –2014 “Estonian National Youth Council’s program for the Parliament of Estonia elections 2015” –2015 “ Estonian National youth policy platform” (new redaction) Background (1/2)

There are 4 milestones in the process of lowering the voting age in Estonia, these milestones are: –1990 Congress of Estonia election, 16 year old people voted! –In 2010 Estonian National Youth Council presented a proposal for the constitutional committee of the Parliament of Estonia –Spring 2012 lowering the voting age was part of broader debates and discussions. In 2012 constitutional committee of the Parliament of Estonia held first public hearing about lowering the voting age to 16 –2014 July - bill to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 in local elections in Estonia submitted to Parliament of Estonia Background (2/2)

January and February – preparations March Changes in the cabinet office were incentive Spring 2014 – meeting with politicians and LYV – Lowering the voting age conference – Model for lowering the voting age – Second open hearing at constitutional committee Current campaign 2014

Current campaign – A bill to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 in local elections in Estonia submitted to Parliament August Opinion Festival – lowering the voting age analysis st hearing at the Parliament of Estonia nd hearing at the Parliament of Estonia 3 rd hearing is scheduled for February 2015 Shadow Elections 2015

– why? Arguments Interests of the politicians in in favor of the elderly –This needs to change! Young people and connection with their municipality Voting habits! Increase the change of young pepole moving back to their hometown at a later time and therefore reducing urbanization Civic education experience –Theoretical knowledge connected with practical experience Young people and their importance!

Lobbying Consistent lobbying throughout the years (8 years) be persistent meeting with stakeholders professors youth participation experts Minister of Justice Legal adviser of the President of Estonia former Chancellor of Justice Members of the Parliament etc

Cooperation regarding the lowering the voting age is dived into two: 1)Estonian National Youth Council developed cooperation points with our strategic partners, such as political youth and other umbrella organizations 2)Estonian National Youth Council developed cooperation points with foreign partners, such as Austrian Youth Council and European Youth Forum Cooperation

Estonian National Youth created model for lowering the voting age to 16 in cooperation with experts and strategic partners Purpose of the model is to chart issues regarding the subject and present solutions in order maximise the effectiveness of lowering the voting age in Estonia. Some of the issues that Estonian National Youth Council detected were quality of civic education, political propaganda in schools, level of Russian schools in Estonia etc Lowering the voting age model – what it is and?

Foreign experience Lowering the voting age to 16 have implemented in: –Nicaragua (1984) –Brazil (1988) –Argentina (2012) –Austria (2007) –Malta (2015) –Scottish referendum (2014) –Norway (2011 simulation) –Germany and Slovenia (can vote when he or she is employed)

Recommendations Members and youth – what do they think? Foreign experience Analysis, surveys, research Lobby, lobby, lobby and media

Conclusion Youth organizations are important and they can make difference!

QUESTIONS? IDEAS? COMMENTS?

THANK YOU!