1. Lowering the voting age Experience and learnings from Austria

2. Content 1.Status quo 2.Arguments Pro & Cons 3.vote@16 Campaigns 4.Recent post-election study 2013 5.Learnings

3. 1. Status quo  NYC lobbying since 2001, several campaigns  Voting age was already lowered in some Federal States (regional and/or local level)  Electoral reform: lowering of the voting age on all levels in 2007

4. 2. Arguments – CONs - young people are (politically) immature - young people do have a more radical voting behaviour - young people do not want to vote by themselves - young people do have enough possibilities to participate

5. + young people are able to act responsibly and to reflect their own behaviour + young people make knowledge-based decisions + young people are interested in politics and want to get reliable information + young people should have rights that fit their duties + voting is a habit: participation in the first election has an impact on one’s voting career – start as a voter, stay a voter! 2. Arguments – PROs

6. 3. vote@16 Campaigns NYC published a booklet with the following content: - situation in the Federal States - positions of the political parties regarding the lowering of the electoral age - PROs and CONs Wal (16) – Geht zu den Wahlen/Go to the elections! (2005)

7. - the aim of the campaign was to motivate young people to vote and to spread information about the voting rights - the campaign was also used to lobby for the lowering of the voting age - a central tool of the campaign was the website www.vote4future.atwww.vote4future.at - other tools: freecards, posters, folders, stickers, give aways - vote4future was organised six times vote4future (2002-2005) 3. vote@16 Campaigns

8. - a catalogue of demands for the future youth minister - presented and discussed in public talks with the top candidates of the parties running for parliament (“Candidates corners”) - lowering the electoral age and improving the possibilities of political participation for young people was a high priority demand JUGENDAGENDA06 (2006) 3. vote@16 Campaigns

9. Youth Forum Campaign + Expert Group 3. vote@16 Campaigns - Lobbying focus for the European Parliament in 2012: Written Declaration 27/12 - WD called on Member States to lower the voting age to 16 years and to foster civic education for young people - WD did not get enough signatures but stimulated a highly relevant discussion about the topic and a sustainable democracy

10. Starting point 4. Study results 2013 Results related to the Parliamentary Elections 2008 were very positive (  knowledge, motivation, interest) Results related to regional elections showed high participation of young voters Questions Will this positive experiences sustain in 2013? How will young voters behave in 2013?

11. Knowledge 4. Study results 2013 Quiz of 7 questions 16 and 17 year olds are as informed as 18-21 year olds Significant difference between school students and apprentices Gender Gap: Young women are a bit more informed than young men – while their self-assessment is different.

12. Interest 4. Study results 2013 More 16 and 17 year olds consider themselves as interested than 18-21 year olds Interest of first time voters raised significantly after the elections Turnout Difference between school students and apprentices Compared to 2008 and previous elections: participation of young voters lower than the average But: 16-17 year olds have the same turnout as 18-21 year olds

13. Challenges 5. Learnings Interest and turnout are not distributed equally Education and social status matter Schools can only partly reduce education gaps Campaigns and information measures should also reach out to less educated and less integrated young people think about 18-25 year olds

14. Good experiences and recommendations 5. Learnings 16-17 year olds are interested and do turn out in about the same amount as 18-21 year old voters (in some cases their turnout was even as high as the average) Campaigns and guiding measures are needed and fruitful, especially those not only addressing school students Young people want to be taken seriously and respond to offers (information, participation, dialogue), special focus should be on first time voters

15. Austrian National Youth Council Liechtensteinstraße 57/2, A - 1090 Wien T - +43.1.214 44 99 F - +43.1.214 44 99-10 M - office@jugendvertretung.atoffice@jugendvertretung.at www.jugendvertretung.at Contact

16. Thank you!