Review of Voting Age

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will review the voting age.

Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): Our minimum voting age is set at 21 under Section 5 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. The reasons for keeping to this minimum voting age had been explained in this House before on more than one occasion. Let me state them again.

Voting in elections is a very serious matter. Voters choose their Member of Parliament and in turn the group of individuals they will entrust to eventually form the government, or the President to exercise the custodial and veto powers set out in the Constitution. This is a choice that a voter needs to have the necessary maturity to make.

These reasons for keeping the minimum voting age at 21 remain valid today, and we have no plans to review it.