Overview
- The Ministry of Youth and Childhood has drafted a law to lower the voting age to 16, initially limited to European Parliament elections to expedite approval.
- The proposal requires an amendment to the General Electoral Regime Law (LOREG) and is currently under inter-ministerial review, with other ministries expected to contribute revisions.
- Approximately 110,000 youths aged 16 and 17 in the Valencian Community would gain voting rights if the measure is approved, according to INE data.
- The initiative aligns with EU recommendations and mirrors similar reforms in countries like Austria, Germany, and Belgium, though it remains politically divisive in Spain.
- Concurrent Interior Ministry reforms propose mandatory electoral debates and greater transparency in polling data, advancing separately from the voting age proposal.