Dave Schwab at Green Party Watch:
From the Economic Voice:
The Green Party has re-affirmed its commitment to giving the vote to anyone over the age of 16.
The Green Primary, a ground-breaking Europe-wide e-democracy project currently underway, offers anyone living in the European Union who is over the age of 16 the opportunity to vote for the two Green leading candidates for the 2014 European Elections.
The winners of the Green Primary will be in the running to become the next European Commission President.
The European Green Primary functions similarly to the presidential primaries in the US, whereby figures within the party run against one another in an open and public manner to win the candidacy.
As well as backing the democratic nature of the project in general, the Green Party of England and Wales fully support engaging 16-year-olds in the electoral process.
Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said:
Natalie Bennett
“It will be the first-ever pan-European primary election, a chance for 16 and 17-year-olds to influence a vote from which they are otherwise excluded, and we hope will provoke a wide debate not just about the contenders but about the possibility of giving citizens a much broader say in European decision-making.”
The Green Primary engages disaffected voters or those potential voters who have become divorced from the traditional political process. Live debates have taken place or will be taking place in austerity-squeezed Greece and Spain showing these voters what the candidates stand for and how voting Green could help them.
Bennett added:
“This primary is an experiment in extending European democracy well beyond its former limits.”
Burns wasn’t on the radar. It wasn’t an age thing.
Though the functional Jim Burns was once a Republican, he was a lifelong member of the Libertarian Party. Young people rejected him in favor of unqualified candidates like Barack Obama and R. Lee Wrights.
Pfffft. They voted Democratic over Republican? I don’t care, and how exactly would that matter in Green primaries.
Also, 18-29 lean (and vote) libertarian far more than older people. I don’t see why that wouldn’t extend to 16 and 17 year olds as well.
God bless the young people, but they voted for Obama rather than qualified candidates like Jim Burns.
There are many such exceptions. In past centuries adulthood started around puberty and it was the norm for 16 year olds to be married, working parents. That’s still true in some countries, although not the US or Europe. Cognitively, I don’t see what is so over-complicated about voting that we would need to infantilize 16 year olds.
God bless you paulie. You are clearly an exception.
I think 16 makes sense. I knew a lot more about politics at 16 or even 12 than the vast majority of adults. And lived as an adult myself.
God bless you Rob Blanks, but as you know the human brain isn’t fully developed until age 25. 18 is really pushing it.
Why is it idiotic? Many 16 year olds have jobs, drive, even get married or fight in wars in some countries. Some 16 year olds are more mature than some 18 year olds. It’s their primary so what is the problem?
God bless the Green Party, but this is idiotic.
LOL, I know that’s what you meant. I don’t know the answer though.
Paulie, I meant actual party that has actually placed a nominee on a ballot!
I think the US Parliament All Party System has a bunch of parties that use this method. However, as far as I know those candidates and parties don’t get on the ballot in Neanderthal Winner Take All elections.
🙂
@Jed – good one!
Americans Elect! Oh wait…
Aside from the European Greens and the Boston Tea Party, does anyone know of any party that has ever nominated candidates via online voting?