In a surprise campaign platform announced Wednesday, BC Liberal leadership candidate Mike de Jong promised that he'll allow 16-year-olds to vote if he is elected the next premier.
De Jong said lowering the voting age in British Columbia in B.C. from 18 to 16 will help combat the trend of declining voter participation in the province.
"Young people can drive at 16, they can enter the military and be raised to adult court, we give them these responsibilities so why not take the next logical step and let them be full participants?" he asked in a statement issued to media.
He says the move wouldn't be a big leap because "political parties already allow 14 year olds to vote in leadership contests."
"If we want to engage young people what better way than to allow students in their graduating year to become full participants in the electoral process," he said.
De Jong has announced a video contest for youth to produce a short video on what they would do as the premier of B.C. Entries can be seen here.
Have your say: Should the B.C. voting age be lowered to 16?
