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In 2007, Austria became the first country in the European Union to lower its voting age to 16 for all national, regional, and local elections. This reform was intended to increase political engagement among young people and encourage their participation in the democratic process. The right to vote, or active suffrage, is now granted to Austrian citizens who are 16 or older, while the minimum age to stand for election, or passive suffrage, remains at 18. This change has sparked a broader discussion about the voting age across Europe, with countries like the UK and Norway considering following suit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voting age in Austria | 16 |
| Year of change | 2007 |
| Previous voting age | 18 |
| Year of first election with 16-year-old voters | 2008 |
| Voter turnout of first-time voters in 2008 election | 88% |
| Voter turnout of 16-17-year-olds in 2013 election | 86.9% |
| Voter turnout of 18-19-year-olds | Lowest of all age groups |
| Voter interest in politics | Directly correlated |
| Voter knowledge of politics | Directly correlated |
| Voter turnout | Inversely correlated with age |
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What You'll Learn
Voting age lowered from 18 to 16 in 2007
In 2007, Austria became the first country in the European Union to lower its voting age from 18 to 16 for all national, regional, and local elections. This change was implemented through the Electoral Law Amendment Act 2007, which was part of a broader reform of electoral law. The reform sent a clear signal to young people that policymakers trusted them to make political decisions and wanted to increase their participation in democracy.
Prior to the federal reform of 2007, some Austrian regions had already taken steps to lower the voting age to 16 in regional and local elections in the early 2000s. The 2007 reform extended this change to include federal elections, presidential elections, and elections for the European Parliament, as well as referendums and all forms of plebiscites. This meant that 16- and 17-year-olds gained the right to vote in general, municipal, and federal elections, as well as in elections to the European Parliament.
The decision to lower the voting age was made by the Austrian National Council (Nationalrat) and was influenced by the principle of homogeneity, which is anchored in the constitution. This principle prohibits the Länder (states) from setting the voting age higher than the federal level for provincial and municipal council elections. The National Council recognised that 16-year-olds have already reached the age of criminal responsibility and extended legal capacity. They are also dealing with life planning, deciding on their educational path, and some are already in professional life.
The impact of lowering the voting age in Austria has been studied, with some research suggesting that it has had a positive effect on voter turnout and political engagement among young people. For example, the reported turnout of first-time voters in the 2008 general election—the first national election in which 16-year-olds could vote—was 88%, which corresponds to the average voter turnout. Additionally, studies have found an increase in political interest among 16- and 17-year-olds after the voting age was lowered. However, critics argue that 16- to 17-year-olds may not be mature enough to make politically informed and well-considered decisions.
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The right to vote in Austria
The right to vote is a fundamental form of political participation in a democracy. In recognition of this, Austria has set the voting age at 16 years. Austrian citizens are entitled to vote if they have not been excluded from the right to vote because of a court conviction and are 16 or older. This right to vote, known as "active suffrage", was lowered from 18 in 2007 through the Austrian National Council's electoral law reform.
The decision to lower the voting age was made to increase the participation of young people in politics. At 16, young people in Austria have already reached the age of criminal responsibility and extended legal capacity. They are dealing with life planning and have to decide on their educational and professional future, with some already in the working world. As such, they should have the right to participate in political decision-making processes that will decide their living space and future.
The lowering of the voting age in Austria has been accompanied by measures to encourage young voters to participate in elections. These include awareness-raising campaigns and enhancing the status of civic and citizenship education in schools. Studies have shown that first-time voters were more interested in politics if their parents were interested in the election campaign, if there were more political discussions and projects in school, and if they had previously watched election debates and visited parliament buildings.
In addition to lowering the voting age, Austria has also made changes to encourage youth participation in politics. For example, the age to stand as a candidate for election was lowered from 19 to 18, except for presidential elections, which require a minimum age of 35. Furthermore, non-Austrian EU citizens who are primarily resident in Austria can vote in municipal council elections and for Austrian Members of the European Parliament or Members of the European Parliament from their Member State of origin.
The impact of lowering the voting age in Austria has been studied, with some arguing that it has had a positive effect on voter turnout and increased political interest among 16 and 17-year-olds. However, critics argue that 16-to-17-year-olds are not mature enough to make politically informed and well-considered decisions. While there may be differing opinions on the impact of lowering the voting age, it is clear that Austria has taken steps to ensure that young people have a say in the political decisions that will shape their future.
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Who can stand as a candidate in Austrian elections?
In Austria, the voting age was lowered from 18 to 16 in 2007, making it the first country in the European Union to adopt this voting age for all purposes. This change was implemented to increase the participation of young people in politics, as they are considered capable of making informed political decisions and their trust in democracy and willingness to participate are higher at this age.
Now, onto the topic of candidacy in Austrian elections. Austrian election law differentiates between the "active" right to vote and the "passive" right to be elected, or stand as a candidate. While Austrians can vote in elections from the age of 16, they are only eligible to stand as candidates from the age of 18, with the exception of presidential elections, which require a minimum age of 35.
Austrian citizens who are 18 or older can stand as candidates in elections, except for the presidency, which has a higher age requirement. Non-Austrian EU citizens who are primarily resident in Austria have the right to stand for election as Austrian Members of the European Parliament, but they cannot stand for municipal council elections, as this council also serves as the provincial parliament.
To be eligible to stand as a candidate in Austria, one must meet the age requirements and not have any disqualifying criminal convictions. Candidates for the National Parliament, Federal President, European Parliament, or Austrian Provincial Parliaments cannot have been sentenced to more than six months of imprisonment, even if conditionally suspended, or to a conditionally suspended custodial sentence of more than one year.
In summary, Austrian citizens aged 18 and above can generally stand for elections, while the presidency requires a minimum age of 35. Non-Austrian EU citizens residing in Austria can stand for European Parliament elections but not for municipal council elections if the council also serves as the provincial parliament. Additionally, criminal convictions may impact an individual's eligibility to stand as a candidate.
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Voter turnout in Austria
In 2007, Austria lowered the voting age from 18 to 16, becoming the first country in the European Union to do so. This change applied to all national, regional, and local elections, including federal elections, presidential elections, and elections for the European Parliament. The decision was made to increase the participation of young people in politics and encourage their engagement in democracy.
Prior to the reform, voter turnout in Austria's 2006 parliamentary elections had dropped by almost 6 percentage points, prompting the ruling coalition to consider strategies to increase electoral participation. The lowering of the voting age was intended to address this issue and encourage political engagement among young people, who are often affected the most by government decisions.
Several studies have examined the impact of this reform on voter turnout in Austria. One study found that the reported turnout of first-time voters in the 2008 general election, the first national-level election in which 16-year-olds could vote, was 88%, which corresponded to the average voter turnout. This indicated a positive initial effect of the reform.
Another study by Zeglovits and Aichholzer (2013) compared the voter turnout of 16- and 17-year-olds to other age groups. They found that younger first-time voters were more motivated to vote than older first-time voters and those aged 20 to under 30. This may be due to better preparation for the election through school and parental influence. The same study also suggested that the lowest voter turnout was among 18 to 19-year-olds, indicating that the problematic group regarding turnout was not the 16 to 17-year-olds, as some critics of the lower voting age had feared.
Additionally, the reform appears to have increased political interest among 16- and 17-year-olds, which is a key factor in voter turnout. However, it is important to note that the turnout intention of Austrian voters under 18 in the weeks before the 2009 European Parliament elections was lower than for voters aged 30 or older. This suggests that the turnout of younger voters may still be lower than the average turnout rate, and the long-term effects of the reform on overall voter turnout in Austria are yet to be fully understood.
While lowering the voting age is a significant step toward increasing youth participation in politics, it is not enough on its own. Other measures, such as awareness campaigns and enhancing the status of civic and citizenship education in schools, are also necessary to ensure active participation among young people.
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The impact of lowering the voting age
In 2007, Austria lowered its voting age from 18 to 16, becoming the first country in the EU to do so. The Austrian National Council (Nationalrat) made this decision as part of the 2007 electoral law reform to increase young people's participation in politics.
Increased youth participation in politics
Lowering the voting age has been seen as a way to increase the participation of young people in politics and foster their interest in the political process. Studies have shown that young people with an interest in politics are more likely to vote. In the 2008 general election, the first national-level election in which 16-year-olds were allowed to vote, the reported turnout of first-time voters was 88%, which corresponds to the average voter turnout. This indicates a positive starting effect of the lowered voting age.
Long-term positive effects on voter turnout
The lowering of the voting age has also been found to have long-term positive effects on voter turnout. Voting is a habitual act, and people who vote once are more likely to vote again in the future. Lowering the voting age establishes new voters when people are less likely to be moving due to attending college or leaving their families.
Empowering young people
Lowering the voting age gives young people a say in decisions that will impact their future. At 16, young people have already reached the age of criminal responsibility and extended legal capacity. They are dealing with life planning, deciding on their educational path, and their professional future, and some are already in the professional world. Lowering the voting age allows them to participate in political decision-making processes and have a say in their living space and future.
Encouraging political discussions and education
The decision to lower the voting age has also encouraged political discussions and projects in schools, with schools engaging in preparing 16 and 17-year-olds for federal elections. This has likely contributed to the observed increase in political interest among 16 and 17-year-olds following the change.
While there have been concerns about the maturity of 16-to-17-year-olds to make informed political decisions, studies have shown that voters in this age group made choices that were \"more congruent with party positions,\" indicating that lowering the voting age does not negatively impact the quality of democratic decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
The voting age in Austria is 16. This was lowered from 18 in 2007.
Yes, 16-year-olds can vote in all Austrian elections, including federal, general, municipal, and presidential elections, as well as elections for the European Parliament.
Yes, non-Austrian EU citizens who are primarily resident in Austria can vote in municipal council elections and district elections. They can also vote for Austrian Members of the European Parliament or Members of the European Parliament from their Member State of origin.
Lowering the voting age in Austria has been found to increase political interest among 16 and 17-year-olds. It has also led to a higher voter turnout among first-time voters, with a reported turnout of 88% in the 2008 general election, which was the first national-level election in which 16-year-olds could vote.
