Public Response to the 1987 Green Paper: Voting Age
CHAPTER 17
Annex A
THE AGE OF ENTITLEMENT TO VOTE AND OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CANDIDATURE
INTRODUCTION
17.1 This chapter is divided into two parts, which deal respectively with the age of entitlement to vote and with the age of eligibility for candidature.
17.2 The age of entitlement to vote drew a total of 41 341 submissions, of which 257 came from groups and associations, 40 360 from individuals, and 724 from groups of individuals comprising 4 313 individuals. There were 36 261 pre-printed submissions of which 16 166 were identical letters and 20 095 were in the form of questionnaires. The age of eligibility for candidature received only 1 638 submissions, of which 22 came from groups and associations, 1 586 from individuals, and 30 from groups of individuals comprising 132 individuals. There were 1 376 pre-printed submissions in the form of questionnaires.
17.3 Both of these subjects were raised in the debates of the Legislative Council and at formal meetings of both Municipal Councils and the District Boards. A total of 105 surveys and one signature campaign. also covered the first subject, and four surveys but no signature campaigns or similar documents covered the second.
PART I
THE AGE OF ENTITLEMENT TO VOTE
A. DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DEBATES OR FORMAL MEETINGS OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS
AND DISTRICT BOARDS; AND SUBMISSIONS FROM GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
17.4 Tabulated below are the views on the age of entitlement to vote expressed through the above
sources.
BROAD VIEWS
IN RESPECT OF THE AGE OF ENTITLEMENT TO VOTE
LegCo UC RC
DBs
Green
Groups and Associations
Individuals & Groups of individuals
Paper Option
No. of Speakers
in Debates/Meetings
No. of submissions
No. of submissions
No. of individuals represented
To make no change to the voting age.
3
2
1
106
192
35 362
37 222
i.e. to remain at 21 years
To lower the age to 18 years
Other views
2 N
3
3
48
56
2
0
7
9
5419
303
7056
395
Total
7
5
4
161
257
41 034
44 673
17.5 Of the 321 other broad views expressed, there were various proposals such as raising the voting age to 22 years or higher, lowering it to 18 years in 1991, or setting it at 20 years. Other suggestions included maintaining the present voting age for Municipal Council and District Board elections but lowering it for Legislative Council elections (and vice versa), or determining the voting age by reference to the age of full capacity recommended by the Law Reform Commission.
17.6 Other comments on the subject of the voting age included:
(i) setting a minimum educational standard as a further criterion for eligibility to vote; and
(ii) excluding those with a criminal record from the right to vote.
17.7 The most common reasons given for maintaining the age of entitlement to vote at 21 were that:
(a) there was a lack of civic education in general and for youths in particular;
(b) young people under 21 lacked maturity and practical experience, and could not be expected to
vote judiciously;
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