Premier John Horgan says he’s going to look at a proposal to allow 16-year-olds to vote and “see if it fits.”

Well the suggestion has our vote.

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As Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, pointed out, political parties tend to build their party platforms on who turns out to vote.

“When we look at election campaigns right now, most people typically campaign to the demographic they know that will vote. Which is the 65-to-74 (age group), 75 per cent of them turn out. That’s why we hear campaign promises to reduce hip and knee replacement lineups, frankly, because it’s targeting a demographic.”

He’s absolutely correct.

Advocate organizations such as Generation Squeeze have been pointing out for years that societal problems that are impacting younger generations, such as the lack of affordable housing, have been shunted to the backburner as older voters’ needs or wants are addressed. And, yes, we know many older voters certainly don’t feel like their wants are always addressed, but the reality is that the system is biased toward the older voter and it shows in a myriad of government policies.

It makes perfect sense to have 16-year-olds vote who are inheriting, in many ways, a system built on sustaining an imbalanced status quo.

Will this mean politics will be turned on its head?

No, probably not.

Apathy exists across generations, and we suspect it will take decades before the number of young voters actually correct the age imbalance.

But, engaging young people in the democratic process will have side benefits. It will offer them a sense of engagement and empowerment that is currently lacking.

It will also recognize that just because you’re young doesn’t mean that your opinions and commitments are of less value than someone who is older.

It will also, potentially, allow older voters a chance to truly hear what younger voters think.

It’s a good thing. Let’s just do it.