126 Norwegian municipalities say yes to Voting at 16!

Over a quarter of Norway’s 430 municipalities have applied to participate in a preliminary project with suffrage for 16-year olds in 2011. – Grant all the applications, says LNU.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of local government and regional development sent out an invitation to all of Norway’s 430 municipalites. As a test project to strengthen the democracy, 16- and 17-year olds in some municipalities will be allowed to vote in the local elections in 2011. Over one fourth of all municipalities have applied. Bjarne Dæhli, president of the Norwegian Children and Youth Council, LNU, is very pleased. 

• So many applicants means that there will be a sound foundation for further evaluation. There is a wide specter of municipalities that have applied, both geographically and demographically, he says.

The Ministry has previously stated that only a few of the municipalities will be included in the project. Dæhli thinks that all the applications should be granted.

• It will be very demotivating for the municipalities that have their application denied. The Ministry could decide to use the numbers from just a few of them, but for the sake of democracy allow 16- and 17-year olds in all 126 municipalities to vote. This will give them the opportunity to influence their local communities and make their voice heard on issues that effect them, he says.

The Ministry will decide later this year how many and which municipalities that will be able to participate in the project.