The Justice Committee is calling for public submissions on the Electoral (Lowering Voting Age for Local Elections and Polls) Legislation Bill.

The bill would amend the Local Electoral Act 2001 so that persons aged 16 or 17 years are eligible to vote in local elections and polls. It would not change the voting age for parliamentary elections. The bill would establish a new category of electors, named youth electors, and provide for 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to be registered on a youth electoral roll.

Although it would lower the voting age to 16 years for local elections and polls, the bill would not change the age for:

• being elected or appointed as a member of an alcohol licensing trust or trustee of a community trust:
• voting in the election of members of an alcohol licensing trust:
• voting in the election of trustees of a community trust:
• serving as a juror.

The relevant age for those activities would remain 18 years.

The Bill would also amend the Electoral Act 1993 and other Acts, including local Acts, for the purpose of implementing the policy. The Local Electoral Regulations 2001 would also be amended.

Widely regarded as a bill to increase Leftwing political power, public submissions have opened to allow for the public to have a say.

The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm Friday, 20 October 2023.

Click here to submit a response.