Government to lower councils' voting age to 16 this year

The parliamentary secretary for local councils has asked the Department of Local Councils to start talks with the Electoral Commissioner as to initiate the process by which 16-year-olds are given the right to vote in local council elections.

Addressing the searing in ceremony of councillors elected in the 9 March elections, Parliamentary Secretary Jose' Herrera said this was the gift he was making to the local councils on their 20^th anniversary.

Lowering the voting age in local council elections to 16 formed part of the Labour Party's electoral manifesto.

"I want this decision to be implemented by 20 November, a symbolic step and a gift which we want to give to local councils on their 20^th anniversary " Herrera said.

Herrera urged the councillors to "act and implement" while pledging that his ministry will open its doors to the citizens and councillors.

To mark the 20^th anniversary of the setting up of the local councils, the Labour government will also organise a convention for councilors to approve a roadmap which will see the local councils on the side of families and business and "not on the side of bureaucracy".

"We must also take into account and see why many are choosing not to take part in the democratic process that are the local councils elections," Herrera said.

In the last election, just under 20% of the electorate chose not to vote. Herrera said he wanted to know what was the message this electorate wanted to convey.