State Voting Policies, Democracy and Childism: Case Studies of Germany, Italy, and Kuwait

All human beings possess basic rights that affirm their value and dignity. These rights have been codified in several international bills of human rights that call for equality of treatment and practices without any form of discrimination due to age, gender or group affiliation. Moreover, the political and civil rights are one of human basic rights which includes freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination. As citizens should participate in their state’s decision-making because it is one of their political rights. Then it is necessary to explore all countries’ voting policies, to observe if there are any age restrictions, and if those policies are engaging all citizens equally including children’s ages. Also, if there are any states who made amendments to their voting policies by lowering their voting age to reach out to children who are below 18 years old, to understand if those policies influenced their democratic status within children’s participation. Afterwords, the paper will examine the extent to which children’s right to vote promotes democratic societies. Taking into considerations the debates related to their participation effect on the democratic cycle. Also, the reasons behind children inclusion or exclusion from politics. Notwithstanding, the necessity to comprise the concept of Childism and its approaches to children’ political empowerments. Last, it will examine a case study of three different states of preference: Germany, Italy, and Kuwait to observe their national voting policies, level of democracy, appliance of the international Human Rights conventions and the best strategies that could be approached to ensure children’s right to voting.