States and governments around the world have committed
to constitutions and charters that recognize and support youth participation in
electoral cycles, as well as action plans that develop knowledge and skills in
young people to enable them to be active citizens and leaders. Yet youth
representation remains persistently low in leadership, party membership and
legislatures: 50 per cent of the global population is under 30 years, yet only
2 per cent of parliamentarians are under 30.[i] A
key factor is the gap between the minimum age at which young people can vote,
and the minimum age at which they can run as political candidates – often
significantly higher.
While the minimum voting age is more
or less aligned across countries, the age at which citizens can stand as a
candidate varies widely. The average global minimum age to stand as a candidate
is 22.2 years, about four years older than the almost universal minimum voting
age of 18.[ii] A study conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 2018
concluded that in most countries citizens must wait several years after gaining
the right to vote before being eligible to run for parliamentary office –
usually until age 21 or 25, but in some countries as late as 35 or even 40.[iii]
Such criteria have created enormous
gaps between the youth electorate and political leaders in countries with large
youth populations, creating a “youth bulge.” In Zimbabwe for example, 20 per
cent of the population is aged between 15 and 24,[iv] but people are not eligible to run for office until they are 21 years
old for the lower house and 40 years old for the upper house.
Such age gaps between voters and
political candidates can have the following consequences, among others:
- youth votes will not lead towards a
higher representation of young people
- the lack of trust widens between
young people and political institutions
- a perception arises and persists that
participation is not going to make any difference
- elected leaders have no or only
limited accountability towards the youth electorate.
Proponents of lowering the eligible
age for candidacy maintain that it can lead to greater diversity and more
choice for voters; equal representation rights for young people who are
expected to assume adult responsibilities at voting age; fresh ideas and
perspectives; and greater youth participation. Those against a lower candidacy
age argue that maturity and experience are lacking in younger candidates, they
may become “captives” of a political party, and they may not be equipped to
withstand the pressures of the political environment.
However, many countries are
recognizing age gaps as a barrier to enhanced youth participation and are
reflecting on reducing age requirements to run for office. France, Austria[v], Belgium
and Kenya, for example, have all lowered the required minimum age for becoming
a candidate.
Elsewhere, social campaigns are
increasing pressure on governments to lower the candidacy age in line with the
voting age. The Not Too Young To Run campaign is a global advocacy platform
through which to raise awareness on youth rights to run for elected office, and
to advocate for and inspire young people to run. See Annex: Not Too Young To
Run.
Example: In 2007, Turkey lowered the
eligibility age for parliament from 30 to 25, following the Young MPs Now
campaign, a grass-roots initiative that was run by youth organizations and
youth councils. In 2017, following a constitutional referendum, Turkey again
lowered the eligibility age, to 18. The 2018 elections saw the youngest ever MP
candidate, an 18-year-old female high school student.
Example: In 2017, Nigerian lawmakers approved a bill lowering the age of eligibility for parliamentary representatives to 25 years. The bill, legislated in 2018, also lowers the age for the presidency from 40 to 35. The bill was the outcome of the youth-led advocacy campaign, #NotTooYoungToRun, an initiative launched in Nigeria by YIAGA, and now a global campaign to drive youth representation. In 2018 YIAGA Africa launched a new campaign, Ready to Run, to identify and support young political aspirants.
[iii] IPU, “Youth Participation in National Parliaments,” 2018, https://www.ipu.org/resources/publications/reports/2018-12/youth-participation-in-national-parliaments-2018
, p.23.
[v] Austria’s voting age is 16, but the age to become a candidate
is 18.
