New Zealand lawmakers will debate and vote on whether to lower the national voting age from 18 to 16. The announcement made by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern came hours after the Supreme Court ruled that not allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote amounted to age discrimination. Ardern said that she personally supports the move, but campaigners admit that it will be difficult to get the 75% support needed from lawmakers to pass the legislation.
 　In response to the court’s ruling, a young campaigner said, “This is historic not only for our campaign, but for the country.” He made it clear that issues like climate change, pandemic recovery, and the state of democracy will most affect young people.
 　A number of countries are debating whether to lower their voting age. Some that allow people to vote at 16 include Austria, Malta, Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador.

　紐西蘭國會議員將辯論與表決，是否把投票年齡從十八歲降至十六歲。最高法院日前裁定，拒絕十六歲和十七歲年輕人投票已構成年齡歧視，數小時後，總理阿爾登宣布了這個消息。阿爾登表示，她個人支持此舉，但催生該活動的人士坦言，很難獲得通過此案所需的百分之七十五議員的支持。
　最高法院裁決出爐後，一位支持降低投票年齡的年輕人說：「這不僅對我們的活動，甚至對國家都具有歷史意義。」他明確的表示，氣候變遷、疫情大流行的復甦、民主現狀等問題，對年輕人的影響最大。
　目前多個國家針對是否要降低投票年齡展開辯論。有些國家允許十六歲投票，包括奧地利、馬爾他、巴西、古巴和厄瓜多。