Hungary debates lowering the voting age to 16

Hungarian Education and Children Minister Judit Lannert said she would support reducing the voting‑age threshold from 18 to 16 years. The proposal is also backed by opposition MP Peter Magyar, who posted on Facebook that the majority of youths under 18 are sufficiently informed to take part in electoral decisions. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony indicated conditional support, suggesting the change should initially apply only to municipal elections. The move would require a constitutional amendment and the drafting of a new election law, a process that could take one to two years.

Other European examples were cited, noting that Malta already allows voting at 16 and some German states permit it for local polls, while Argentina and Brazil have done the same in South America. Youths from the Tisza region reported active engagement with political debates and expressed readiness to vote if the law changes. No final decision has been made, and the proposal remains under discussion as part of Hungary’s broader constitutional reform.