Hello everybody! Many students have already started their summer breaks, and people are planning to travel around and outside of Japan. Please stay safe in this heat but have a great time!
Recently, Japan had a major election, and the results were surprising. It seemed like more young people became interested in politics, and they decided to vote in the election. Around the world, many different countries are trying to encourage young people to become more involved in the political process. Today, we will look at a new idea that is being introduced in the UK.
The British government has decided to lower the voting age to 16. Before this change, people had to be 18 to vote. This new rule is part of a plan to make voting fairer and to get more young people involved in choosing their leaders. Teenagers who are 16 or 17 years old will be able to vote for the first time in the next big election in the UK. The government said they want to update democracy for the 21st century and help more people trust the system.
Some people are happy about this change. They say that 16-year-olds already have jobs and pay taxes, so they should have a say in how the country is run. Prime Minister Keir Starmer agrees and said that if young people pay taxes, they should also get to vote. Another government leader said young people work hard and even join the military, so it makes sense to let them vote on things that matter to them.
However, not everyone thinks this is a good idea. Some people believe 16-year-olds are still too young to make such important choices. They point out that teens at that age can’t drink alcohol, buy lottery tickets, or get married without their parents’ permission. These people wonder why someone too young for those things should be allowed to vote.
What do you think about the UK’s decision? Should Japan lower the voting age, too? Please let us know what you think when you come to BRIDGE in the future.
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