As Europe today celebrates Europe Day, 4.8 million German voters are looking to cast their ballots for the first time in European elections in a month's time. So many of them as the voting age has been reduced there to 16.

Berlin

Germany has officially reduced its voting age to 16, enabling approximately 4.8 million new voters to participate in the upcoming European elections. This significant change aims to engage younger citizens in the democratic process and offers them the opportunity to influence decisions that affect their future. In preparation for this, civics courses are being conducted in over 5,000 schools across the nation to educate these first-time voters about the importance of the elections, the functioning of the European Parliament, and the intricacies of voting.

These educational initiatives are particularly critical at a time when the political landscape is increasingly shaped by social media platforms. Here, young voters are exposed to vigorous campaigns, including those by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been notably active online. The objective of these courses is not just to encourage voting but to equip the youth with the skills necessary to critically analyze and assess the information encountered online.

By lowering the voting age, Germany has gained an additional 1 million first-time voters compared to the 2019 elections. This move is seen as a step towards empowering younger citizens and acknowledging their right to have a say in their political future. German officials and European Commission representatives view this development optimistically, suggesting that if successful, it could encourage other European Union countries to consider a similar reduction in voting age. The involvement of young voters is hoped to bring fresh perspectives and energy into the political discourse, potentially setting a precedent for wider European electoral reform.



Germany lowers voting age to 16 ahead of European elections

Voting can also be learned in the classroom. At this school, civics lessons are given to all 16-year-olds who will be taking part in the European elections for the first time. The aim of the course is to help them understand what is at stake in the elections. It's exciting and it's your first time. A lot is at stake. It's great that we have the right to take part in this election. It gives me the feeling that I can make a difference, whereas usually it's the older people who decide. At 16 you can work, you can leave home if you want to, so the least you can do is also decide your political future. What does a ballot paper look like? What is the European Parliament for? For these pupils, the campaign has so far taken place on social networks, where the far right is particularly aggressive. It's very unusual to see all these parties taking to social media in recent times, but it's true that the far right AfD party is everywhere online and they really know what buttons to press. The course is not necessarily designed to encourage them to vote, that's their decision, but we aim to give them the tools to analyse and filter everything. By lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, Germany gains 1 million first-time voters compared to 2019. It's an important pool of voters and explains the increasing number of events aimed at young people, as this minister and European Commission representative notes, particularly as Germany and the other four countries that allow people to vote from the age of 16 could pave the way for others. If lowering the voting age is a success in Germany, and it shows that young voters are really getting involved and using their ballots, then it could perhaps inspire others in the EU. Over 5,000 German schools are currently offering courses for first-time voters. Mock elections are scheduled the week before the actual European polls open in early June.

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