---
title: "Estonia to lower the voting age for the EP elections"
id: "90883"
type: "post"
slug: "estonia-to-lower-the-voting-age-for-the-ep-elections"
published_at: "2026-10-14T15:16:12+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-10-14T15:16:54+00:00"
url: "https://estonianworld.com/life/estonia-to-lower-the-voting-age-for-the-ep-elections/"
markdown_url: "https://estonianworld.com/life/estonia-to-lower-the-voting-age-for-the-ep-elections.md"
excerpt: "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 […]"
taxonomy_category:
  - "Life"
publisher: "Estonian World"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Sten Hankewitz"
author_url: "https://estonianworld.com/author/stenhankewitz/"
---

# Estonia to lower the voting age for the EP elections

![Estonian flag among some of the other EU member states' flags in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France. Photo by Antoine Schibler on Unsplash.](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Estonian-flag-among-some-of-the-other-EU-member-states-flags-in-front-of-the-European-Parliament-building-in-Strasbourg-France.-Photo-by-Antoine-Schibler-on-Unsplash.-1-1024x576.jpg)

Estonian flag among some of the other EU member states' flags in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France. Photo by Antoine Schibler on Unsplash.

By  [Sten Hankewitz](https://estonianworld.com/author/stenhankewitz/)
  ·  October 14, 2026  · [Life](https://estonianworld.com/category/life/)
 · 1 minute of reading

**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.

## About The Author

![Avatar photo](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/local-avatars/15/1707599474-bpfull-100x100.jpg)

[Sten Hankewitz](https://estonianworld.com/author/stenhankewitz/)
Sten Hankewitz is a lifelong journalist and the Executive Editor at Estonian World. Having lived in Estonia, Spain, the UK and all around the US, he now resides in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He loves to write and besides working at Estonian World, he [writes books](https://estonianworld.com/culture/the-grand-illusion-estonian-worlds-sten-hankewitz-publishes-a-novel-about-growing-up-in-the-soviet-union/)
 and contributes to other outlets. He has strong convictions and shows them unashamedly. You can follow Sten on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@stenhankewitz)
, [X](https://twitter.com/stenhankewitz)
 and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/shankewitz/)
. You can also [email him](mailto:sten@estonianworld.com)
.