Voting Age In Canada

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Did you know that the voting age was not always 18 in Canada? Until 1970 the legal voting age was 21. However this caused a lot of controversy. Citizens aged 18-21 reasoned that since they were old enough to fight and possibly lose their lives in war for their country they should be able to elect who would make decisions and represent them in government. 1970, a revised Canada Elections Act lowered the voting age and the age of candidacy from 21 years to 18. What did Canada’s youth do with this newfound right? As little as possible! On average less than 38.8% of Canadian youth from the age of 18-25 vote. The failure of young adolescents to vote has spawned much uncertainty and worry from government officials making them feel that lowering the

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