AUSTRALIA’S legal voting age, and the merits or otherwise of lowering it from 18 to as young as 16, has come under the microscope from supporters seeking a youthful change.They claim that 16-year-olds are able to work, pay taxes, drive a car (under supervision) and make decisions such as whether to stay at school or take an apprenticeship, while those who seek the status quo say there is no reason to lower the age limit because many 16-year-olds are either not interested in voting or would not be able to make an informed decision.But today’s world is vastly different to 1973, when the voting age was lowered to 18, and many other nations have already acted to give their youth the chance to be part of the democratic process. The vast majority of today’s generation of 16 and 17-year-old teenagers have the opportunity to be far more politically savvy than their parents were at a similar age, thanks mostly to the internet.A change in the legal voting age would give those who are about to enter a stage of their lives where government policy has an incredible influence - namely higher education or the general workforce - the chance to have a say. Most 16 and 17-year-olds would know a lot more about climate change, the higher education system and even the rules of the road than adults many years their senior.There’s nothing wrong with Australia having a debate about its minimum voting age - in fact, it would be far worse not to have such a timely debate at all.What do you think? Write a letter to the editor, or e-mail editor@bendigoadvertiser.com.au