LOWERING VOTING AGE

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Prime Minister, in view of the growing number of senior citizens as voters, whether there are good reasons to think of balancing this trend by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years in order to increase and capture more voters in the young and economically active category.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: The great majority of the 18 to 21 year old Singaporeans are still studying or doing national service. They are not economically active. Hence, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years will not significantly increase the number of economically active voters to balance the growing number of voters in the over 60 age group.