Exclusion Of 16 And 17-Year-Olds From 2026 Election Is A Human Rights Failure, Four Years After Supreme Court Ruling
by Make It 16 · SCOOP13 November 2026
Make It 16 says Aotearoa has failed its young people once again, with thousands of 16 and 17-year-olds excluded from voting in another general election, four years after the Supreme Court found that the voting age of 18 was inconsistent with the right to be free from age discrimination.
The youth-led, non-partisan campaign is calling on incoming MPs to address the continued exclusion of young people and commit to lowering the voting age to 16.
“Four years ago, we took our case to the highest court in the country and won. The Supreme Court confirmed that our exclusion from voting was unjustified age discrimination. Years have passed and we've just watched another election go by without being allowed to have a say,” says Jamin Fountain, Make It 16 director.
“If we can drive, consent, work full-time and pay tax, why can't we vote? We're already participating in society and are just as affected by government decisions. It's time our democracy caught up. It’s time the voting age was lowered to 16.”
Under the Bill of Rights Act, protection from age discrimination applies from age 16. A bill to lower the voting age for local elections passed its first reading in Parliament in 2023 but was later dropped, and no legislative changes have been made since the Supreme Court's declaration.
Make It 16 says it is unacceptable that New Zealand continues to exclude young people from voting after the country's highest court found that their exclusion could not be justified.
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Figures obtained by Make It 16 show that 16 and 17-year-olds have paid over $100 million in income tax every year for the past three completed tax years, contributing billions of dollars to the economy in the process. That’s over $365 million in taxation without representation.
Research shows that 16 and 17-year-olds have the cognitive capacity to make considered voting decisions. And where the voting age has been lowered, young people have demonstrated their willingness to participate. In Scotland's 2014 independence referendum, more than 75% of 16 and 17-year-olds voted, compared with approximately 50% of 18 to 24-year-olds.
“When young people are affected by government decisions but denied the right to vote, that's a failure of democracy and a human rights issue. Young people are part of democracy, and democracy is incomplete without our voices,” says Malak Tamimi, Make It 16 spokesperson.
Public support for lowering the voting age extends across generations, with New Zealanders of all ages sharing why they've signed Make It 16's pledge.
Support for lowering the voting age spans generations. Trixie, a student from Southland, says: “I am a student and I believe that me and my peers deserve the right to vote. We're not irresponsible. If we can drive, why can't we vote?”
Kathleen from Wellington says: “I trust my grandchildren’s cohort to make better informed judgements than my own contemporaries. It’s their future that’s at stake”.
And Ron, an 89-year-old supporter from Wellington, believes “voting at 16 would encourage young people to engage with civic life at an important stage in their development.”.
Fountain says Aotearoa has a history of expanding democratic rights, being the first country to give women the right to vote, and lowering the voting age should be the next step.
“New Zealand was the first self-governing country to give women the vote. We know our democracy can change, and we know young people are ready to be part of it.
“We shouldn't have to win the same argument over and over again. The Supreme Court made its ruling in 2022. It's now 2026, and another election has passed without us having a say. How many more elections are 16 and 17-year-olds expected to sit out?”
Make It 16 is calling on incoming MPs to publicly commit to lowering the voting age and support the campaign's pledge.
Notes:
Make It 16 NZ is a non-partisan, youth-led campaign advocating for the voting age to be lowered to 16 in Aotearoa New Zealand. See our website: https://www.makeit16.org.nz/
For more information on the 2022 Supreme Court ruling https://www.makeit16.org.nz/thecourtcase
For more information on the previous bill on lowering the voting age: https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/0aba4b2e-edc6-4a27-c01a-08db9d132713?Tab=hansard&lang=en
For more information on all the reasons to lower the voting age: https://www.makeit16.org.nz/reasons
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