Estonia will lower the minimum voting age for European Parliament elections from 18 to 16, while reducing the minimum age for candidates from 21 to 18; the changes will take effect in 2029.
The Estonian parliament passed the amendment by 59 votes to 28. It lowers the voting age from 18 and the minimum age for candidates from 21.
The right to vote and stand will apply to Estonian citizens and citizens of other EU member states who have permanent residence in Estonia.
The amendment was first proposed in March 2024 by 45 MPs, who argued that young people should have a greater role in discussions and decisions on European issues. In their explanatory memorandum, they said Estonia’s ageing population risked giving older voters an increasingly dominant influence over political engagement and decision-making.
The change is intended to bring youth issues into public debate, encourage young people to take part in civic life and give them a greater say in European decisions affecting their interests, needs and future.
The new rules will first apply at the 2029 European Parliament elections. Estonia lowered the voting age for local elections in 2017, allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in municipal council elections.
