New Zealand Supreme Court rules voting age of 18 is discriminatory in the country

Tags: International News

The Supreme Court of New Zealand has in a decision delivered on 21 November 2022 ruled that the country's current voting age of 18 was discriminatory. The Supreme Court found that the current voting age of 18 was inconsistent with the country's Bill of Rights, which gives people a right to be free from age discrimination when they have reached 16.

The case which was filed by the advocacy group Make It 16 in 2020 welcomed the ruling of the court and termed it historic.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government would draft legislation to reduce the age to 16, which could then be put to a vote in parliament.

Voting age in the world 

Maximum country in the world allow voting rights to citizens after completion of 18 years. However there are certain countries in the world which allows 16 years to vote. They are: Brazil, Ecuador, Austria, Cuba, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Nicaragua and Scotland.

Voting age in India 

The voting age in India was 21 years since the promulgation of the constituting in 1950. However by 61st constitution amendment act 1988 the voting age was reduced to 18 years.

New Zealand 

It is an island country in South Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people of New Zealand are called Maoris.

The island was discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1642.

New Zealand is famous for its flightless bird Kiwi.

Its economy is dominated by agriculture (sheep raising).

It is a constitutional monarchy with the King of Britain being its Head of the State.

Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern

Currency: New Zealand Dollar

Capital: Wellington