Vancouver city council to consider lowering voting age

Vancouver councillor Pete Fry plans to propose lowering the municipal voting age from 18 to 16 during a city council meeting. He emphasizes that young people are significantly impacted by political decisions related to education, housing, and climate change. Fry points out that many countries, including Austria and Sweden, allow 16-year-olds to vote in local elections, highlighting a growing trend toward youth engagement in politics. The provincial government must amend the Vancouver Charter to implement this change, as it currently dictates the voting age. In addition to the voting age proposal, Fry’s motion will request city staff to research youth engagement initiatives for the municipal elections scheduled for October 2026.

Fry argues that responsibilities such as working and paying taxes align with the right to vote. City council will meet at 9:30 a. m. to discuss the implications of this motion. The decision could significantly influence local political engagement among younger citizens.