New Zealand’s highest court ruled on Monday that the current voting age of 18 is discriminatory, forcing parliament to deliberate whether it should be lowered.
The case, which has been in court since 2020, was bought by advocacy group Make It 16, which wants the age lowered to 16 and 17 year olds.
The Supreme Court ruled that the current voting age of 18 is inconsistent with the country’s Bill of Rights, which gives people the right to be free from age discrimination when they turn 16.
The decision initiates a process in which the issue must be submitted to parliament for discussion and review by a select parliamentary committee. But it does not force parliament to change the voting age.
“This is history,” said Caeden Tipler, co-director of Make It 16, adding, “Government and Parliament cannot ignore such a clear legal and moral message. They must let us vote.”
The group says on its website that there is insufficient justification to prevent 16-year-olds from voting if they can drive, work full-time and pay taxes.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government would draft legislation to lower the age to 16, which could then be put to a vote in parliament.
“Personally, I support a lowering of the voting age, but it is not just my business or even the government’s business. Any electoral law change of this nature requires 75% of parliamentary support,” she said.
Political parties have mixed views on the subject. The Green Party wants immediate action to lower the voting age to 16, but the largest opposition party, the National Party, does not support the move.
“Obviously we have to draw the line somewhere,” National party leader Christopher Luxon said. “We like that the border is 18. Many different countries have different places where the border is drawn and from our point of view 18 is fine.”