#UK: 16/17-Year-Old Voters In Wales Say They Need Better Voter Education

[world politics news]

Children should be taught about politics in school to encourage them to vote, according to young people about to vote for the first time.

Those aged 16 and 17 were able to vote for the first time in the Welsh Senedd, the region's parliament, in May 2021, although turnout was low among this age group.

Despite being given the right to vote for the first time in last May's Welsh Parliamentary elections, figures showed 50% of that group registered to vote, with an estimated 60% of those actually voting.

This age group can also vote in Scottish parliament elections, but not for the UK parliament.

A previous report on Welsh votes at 16 said work engaging youngsters needed to start earlier.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: European Parliament Will Allow Email Voting For Members During Coronavirus Crisis

[world politics news]

The European Parliament  will temporarily allow electronic voting by email as MEPs are forced to work remotely during the coronavirus crisis.

A spokeswoman for the parliament confirmed today that an “alternative electronic voting procedure” has been agree for the full session that will take place March 26.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Ontario New Democrats Pass Resolution To Lower Voting Age To 14

[world politics news]

Delegates and party members of the Ontario New Democratic Party passed a resolution to lower the voting age to 14 at its convention this past weekend.

“Resolution 5-5: Youth Political Engagement” also tackled the engagement of young voters and the need to improve civics education in the province. Currently, Canadian citizens must be 18 years old or older to vote in an election.

National NDP Party Leader Jagmeet Singh was also present at the convention alongside Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, where he unveiled his party’s 2019 election platform.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#INDIA: Opposition And Ruling Parties Unite To Complain Of Widespread Voting Machine Glitches

[world politics news]

Both the ruling BJP Party and all opposition parties complained to India's Election Commission about mass voting irregularities in by-elections this week. The Commissioners called the claims "exaggerated." Snags in machines designed to leave a paper trail plagued elections constituencies even as political parties across the spectrum raised the call of the large-scale tampering of Electronic Voting Machines. The Election Commission said 96 balloting units and 84 control units of electronic machines and 1,202 paper trail machines had to be replaced.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Hiroshima Court Rules: Denial Of Inmates' Voting Rights Constitutional

[world politics news]'

A Japanese court  has found constitutional an election law provision denying prison inmates the right to vote in a national election, in the latest ruling in a series of lawsuits filed over the controversial issue.

#DENMARK: All Parties Support Citizen Petition Plan That Would Require Votes In Parliament

[world politics news]

There is broad political support to allow Danish citizens to send proposals directly to parliament if they can recruit 50,000 fellow Danes to their cause. The plan is backed by the Danish People’s Party, the Social Liberals (Radikale), the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), the Alternative, the Socialist People’s Party and the Conservatives.

#BULGARIA: It's Official: Bulgarians Are Now Required By Law To Vote

[world politics news]

Bulgarians will be required by law to vote in elections, after the National Assembly amended the Electoral Code to introduce mandatory voting. In a divisive vote which split several parties, 109 MP's voted for the measure, while 74 opposed. The leader of the opposition Movement for Rights and Freedoms, parliament's third-largest party, said it would oppose the new law in the nation's Constitutional Court, although it ironically might help the party's performance.

#JAPAN: Diet Approves Law Allowing Voting At Train Stations, Shopping Centers

[world politics news]

Japan’s Diet enacted Wednesday a bill to revise the public offices election law to allow voters to cast ballots for national and local elections at train stations, shopping centers and other facilities. The legislation will come into force on June 19, when the country's voting age is to be lowered from 20 to 18 under another amendment to the same law made last year.

#ISRAEL: Bill To Strip "Enemy-Supporting" Arab Legislators Of Vote Passes First Hurdle; Oppo. Pols Decry

[world politics news]

Israel's parliament have given initial approval to a bill that would allow members to suspend from the legislature colleagues whom they believe have supported Israel's enemies or have acted against the state. The proposal was strongly criticized by opposition members who said it was aimed against Israel's Arab lawmakers.

#JAPAN: Diet Approves Lowering Voting Age to 18 from 20

[world politics news]

The Diet on Wednesday passed legislation to lower the voting age to 18 from its current 20, allowing teenagers into polling booths for the first time. The move will bring Japan-where political power resides firmly with the burgeoning older generations-into line with other developed countries and will extend the franchise to an extra 2.4 million 18- and 19-year-olds.

#UK: Cameron Concedes 16, 17-Year-Olds Could Vote In EU Referendum

[world politics news]

While personally opposed to the idea, PM David Cameron has agreed to allow Members of Parliament to vote on whether 16- and 17-year-olds should be allowed to participate in the country's referendum on European Union membership. The youth were allowed to vote in the Scotland Indepdenence referendum earlier this year.