Petition: Lower the Voting Age to 16
Give youth a voice: Lower the voting age in BC to 16
Stand with the BC Greens as we call on the BC government to lower the voting age to 16 and introduce strong civics and voting education in schools.
16 and 17-year-olds are already working, paying taxes, and leading social movements — but they still don’t have the right to vote. That’s not just unfair. It’s undemocratic.
Young people are living through a climate crisis, rising inequality, and an uncertain economic future. They deserve a say in the decisions shaping their lives — not later, but now.
British Columbia has the opportunity to lead the charge and set an example for the rest of Canada. By lowering the voting age and empowering youth through education, BC can show what a forward-thinking, inclusive democracy looks like — one that values the voices of its youngest citizens.
Join us by signing our petition, calling on the BC government to lower the voting age to 16 by the next election — and give youth the voice they deserve in our democracy.
Petition Text
To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:
The petition of the undersigned, [Name], of [City or Town], states that:
Whereas
- 16- and 17-year-olds in British Columbia contribute meaningfully to society — working jobs, paying taxes, driving, volunteering, and participating in political movements — yet are still denied the right to vote;
- Voter turnout in British Columbia fell to just 58% in the 2024 provincial election, highlighting an urgent need to improve civic engagement and voter participation;
- Research shows that lowering the voting age and introducing civic education in schools increases lifelong voter turnout and strengthens democratic participation;
- 16- and 17-year-olds have demonstrated their capacity for informed decision-making and civic involvement, including through movements for climate justice, education equity, and social change;
- Many jurisdictions around the world — including Austria, Brazil, and Scotland — have successfully lowered the voting age to 16 and seen positive democratic outcomes;
Therefore, your petitioners respectfully request that the Honourable House:
- Amend the Election Act to lower the provincial voting age in British Columbia to 16 years of age;
- Mandate comprehensive civics and voting education in B.C. secondary schools to support informed participation;
Dated this [Day] day of [Month], 20[Year].
BC can set the standard for Canada.
Voter turnout in BC is a crisis. In 2024, just 58% of eligible British Columbians cast a ballot — barely more than half. That’s not good enough in a healthy democracy.
The evidence is clear: voting is a habit, and the earlier that habit is formed, the more likely it is to stick. By lowering the voting age and embedding voting education in classrooms, we can help build a generation of voters who are informed, engaged, and empowered.
Other countries that have taken this step have seen stronger turnout and more responsive governments. If BC leads on this issue, it can inspire provinces across Canada to follow. This is our moment to lead.
It’s time to trust youth with a ballot.
In British Columbia, 16 and 17-year-olds can drive, work, pay taxes, join a political party, and even enroll in the Armed Forces. But they can’t vote — even though they are directly impacted by every decision governments make.
Lowering the voting age to 16 is about strengthening our democracy. It recognizes that youth are already engaged in civic life and that they have the right to shape the future they will inherit.
The BC Greens are calling on the government to:
- Lower the voting age in BC to 16
- Introduce comprehensive civics and voting education in schools
This is about more than fairness. It’s about building a healthier democracy — one where youth engagement starts early and lasts a lifetime.
Young people already care deeply about politics. From the student climate strikes to campaigns for social and economic justice, teenagers are leading the charge for change. But they’re still denied one of the most basic tools of democratic participation: the vote.
Opposition to lowering the voting age is often based on myths — that teens don’t care, aren’t mature, or will just vote like their parents. But research shows the opposite:
- 16-year-olds are just as informed as older voters.
- Young people are independent thinkers who already make decisions about school, work, and family.
- Giving youth the right to vote actually increases civic participation across families and communities.
Youth are not the future — they’re the present. It’s time BC recognized that.
Add your name to this petition and demand that the provincial government lower the voting age to 16. Let’s build a stronger democracy — one that includes everyone with a stake in our collective future.