Germany Proposes Voting Rights For Children

July 10, 2008 9:56 a.m. EST

Berlin, Germany (AHN) - There is a proposal in the Bundestag to grant German children voting rights. A bipartisan group of 46 lawmakers made the proposal that would grant 14 million young Germans a chance to have their voices be heard in political matters.

Under the proposal, parents would vote for their children. German federal law grants universal suffrage to all adults at least 18-years-old, but a number of states allow 16-year-old citizens to cast their ballot at local elections.

The proposal would amend Article 38 of the country's constitution. A similar suggestion was made in 2005, but was rejected by parliamentarians on constitutional and practical grounds since parents would likely cast their own choices and not of their children's.