EC: No proposal to reduce voting age to 16
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday flatly denied having made any recommendation to the government to reduce the voting age to 16.
The ECI issued a press release in the capital saying, “No such proposal has been made by the Election Commission to the government. There is no recommendation to this type by the Commission or the Chief Election Commissioner.” Clarifying its position on the issue, the ECI regretted that a false impression has been created in connection with it.
The CEC, Dr S.Y. Quraishi, was only responding to a student’s suggestion that the voting age should be reduced to 16 in the light of the fact that students were maturing early progressively. The EC’s release added, “Dr Quraishi had mainly stated that the Election Commission is currently focusing on ensuring fullest participation of the newly eligible 18 year old in the electoral process.”
“The Commissioin finds it particularly challenging that the newly-eligible voters in the 18-19 age group do not register.”
The enrolment in this age group in some areas is as low as 20 per cent.”
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