Lower voting age wins youth MP’s backing
Emily Anselmi says the vote should be as inclusive as possible, including reducing the age of eligibility to 17.
A Tamahere 17-year-old will head south to Wellington for legislative debate at Youth Parliament this week.
St Peter’s Cambridge’s Emily Anselmi will represent Hamilton-based NZ First MP Barbara Stewart as one of 121 nationally selected youth MPs to participate in the two day event (July 16 and 17).
Established in 1994, Youth Parliament happens every three years as a chance to learn first-hand how New Zealand’s democracy system works through select committees and a mock bill debate.
This year a mock Electoral Reform Bill will be debated. Areas of reform include reducing the voting age to 17, making voting compulsory, introducing an electronic voting system, and extending the parliamentary term to four years.
Anselmi says she strongly agrees with all aspects of the bill.
“In order to create equality in terms of the attentiveness of the government to different sectors of society, such as youth, the ability to vote should be as inclusive as possible to increase visibility around youth issues and other minority issues in the electoral process,” she said.
Anselmi is also part of the Maori affairs select committee that will discuss the role of iwi in supporting the development of youth in a potentially post-settlement environment.
She believes iwi will continue to have an important role in supporting education.
“It is also important to ensure that youth are culturally aware of their heritage and are taking on leadership roles to support and sustain New Zealand’s cultural growth.”
Stewart says she chose Emily as her youth MP for her passion and commitment to represent youth viewpoints.
“Emily is a smart and driven young lady with an avid interest in New Zealand’s political system,” she said.
