A motion introduced at Vancouver City Council today that would’ve paved the way for lowering the voting age has not passed.
The motion, introduced by Councillor Pete Fry, would have lowered the voting age to 16 for municipal elections.
Currently, voters in Vancouver have to be 18 years of age or older, and the next municipal election is under a year away, taking place on Oct. 17, 2026.
Fry’s motion states that the right to vote “is a cornerstone of democracy.”
“Youth aged 16 and 17 are increasingly engaged in civic issues, demonstrating informed perspectives and active participation in community and political life. Many political decisions—education, employment, housing, climate change, transportation and public transit—directly affect youth,” the motion says.
His motion points out that at 16 years of age, folks can work, drive, pay taxes, and “in some cases, be tried as adults.”
Fry points to research that indicates that voting at a younger age “fosters lifelong civic engagement and strengthens democratic participation.”
Only three councillors voted in favour of the motion, including Fry, Sean Orr, and Lucy Maloney.
Peter Meiszner, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Brian Montague, Mike Klassen and Lenny Zhou voted in opposition. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, Lisa Dominato and Rebecca Bligh were absent.
City of Vancouver
Fry’s motion also indicated other places in the world that allow a voter age of 16 in some levels of government, like Cuba, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Scotland, Sweden and the USA. He also pointed to organizations that support lowering the voting age, like the BCGEU, the BCNDP, and the B.C. Greens, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, and other civic organizations.
ResearchCo conducted a survey on the topic of voting earlier this year.
The survey asked British Columbians their thoughts about whether the legal voting age should be lowered.
Among respondents, 35 per cent said they support British Columbians who qualify as Canadian citizens to vote when they turn 16 or 17. However, more than half of survey respondents (57 per cent) were more supportive of allowing permanent residents aged 18 and over to vote in provincial elections.
If the motion had passed, it would have been up to the B.C. government to allow the change, as it has the legislative authority to amend the Vancouver Charter.
Mayor Sim would have then had to write a letter to B.C. Premier David Eby and the Minister of Municipal Affairs urging them to amend the charter.
Do you support lowering the voting age for municipal elections in Vancouver? Tell us why or why not in the comments.