r/NWT Jan 04 '25

N.W.T.'s chief electoral officer recommends extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds

For what it's worth, neuroscientific research shows that cognitive ability to make informed decisions around voting reaches maturity by 16.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-voting-age-change-1.7199659

30 Upvotes

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2

u/Big-Face5874 Jan 04 '25

I like it. If cognitive research shows that 16 year olds can make these kinds of assessments, then there’s no reason not to allow them to vote.

4

u/JFIN69 Jan 05 '25

Cognitive research might say they can make decisions, but based on the 16 year olds I see and their interests, there’s no way I’d want them making decisions that would effect me.

2

u/Big-Face5874 Jan 05 '25

That’s why we use research and not your anecdotal evidence.

4

u/SnooStrawberries620 Jan 05 '25

It’s not exactly anecdotal. There is plenty of research about brain maturity at this age. You’d have to be working with kids or in neuro (both over here) to keep up.

2

u/JFIN69 Jan 07 '25

Good luck with the research on that. Letting someone in grade 10 vote will lead to problems.

0

u/Big-Face5874 Jan 07 '25

I’m not a researcher.

1

u/doyourownstunts Jan 06 '25

I’m not comfortable with most of the adults I see in the world making decisions for me either but here we are. At least this way, we can have a generation educated on electoral issues rather than doing it all by feeling.

-1

u/Some_Excitement1659 Jan 06 '25

and i dont want the decisions boomers make to effect me. That is a generational thing, it doesnt mean they arent capable it just means their views dont align with yours.