By Reda Gilytė, Aistė Valiauskaitė, Goda Malinauskaitė, LRT TV, LRT.lt.

The Lithuanian parliament last week opened debate on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in municipal elections, a change supporters say would boost civic engagement among young people.

Students, who frequently visit the Seimas to observe lawmakers at work, have long argued for lowering the voting age in local elections. Martynas Dikšaitis, president of the Lithuanian School Students’ Union, said many 16-year-olds already shoulder adult responsibilities.

“A 16-year-old today can leave school, pay taxes, work, sign contracts, even be prosecuted,” he said. “Why then can’t they vote?”

Dikšaitis said extending the franchise would encourage more young people to join civic organisations and participate in public life. “This could be the moment when younger people are no longer pushed to the margins,” he said.

Backers of the amendment say the change would strengthen young people’s connection to their home communities, especially those who move away to study.

Read more: LRT.LT