The arguments against lowering the voting age to 16 from 18 are familiar.

Teenagers do not care about politics, they do not have a stake in the system, and they, well, do not have the intellectual firepower to participate in the political process.

Myrika McDonald and Elyssa Sunray, both 17, have heard all of these arguments before, and their attitudes and actions challenge each and every one of them.

As future leaders, youth have a right to speak, said McDonald. Sixteen-year-olds are educated and engaged enough thanks to school and social media, she added.

B次元官网网址淎t 16, it is a good idea to get more youth involved in political issues, as it affects us as well,B次元官网网址� she said.

While it does not have a direct connection to voting rights, last weekendB次元官网网址檚 March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. demonstrated the power of youth to shape the political discourse.

McDonald sounded especially critical of the view that youth by virtue of being young do not have the intellect to make informed choices B次元官网网址淭here are people older than 18 who may not be as capable as 16-year-olds,B次元官网网址� she said.

Sunray agrees. Older critics of a lower voting age fail to consider that education has changed significantly since they attended school.

The intellectual journey of McDonald and Sunray towards re-jigging the voting system began a few weeks ago, when they discussed the subject during philosophy class at Claremont secondary school.

It then led the duo to the steps of the Legislative Assembly, where they along with friends held up signs with slogans like B次元官网网址楧o We Get a Say Too?B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址業tB次元官网网址檚 Our Right TooB次元官网网址� while covering their mouths with duct tape to symbolize the silence that the current voting system has forced upon them.

These local expressions of unfulfilled political expectations happen against developments that speak to the growing strength of youth in the western world and beyond. Starting in the 1990s, states around the world explored the extension of voting to 16-year-olds.

Austria and Brazil have since amended their eligibility rules. The English-speaking world including Canada has also studied the subject as part of efforts to raise political participation rates. Four years ago, Scotland became the first part of the United Kingdom to extend the franchise to 16-years-olds, and 17-year-olds for parliamentary elections.

British Columbia could join this small but growing company of jurisdictions. B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver has tabled a private memberB次元官网网址檚 bill to lower the voting age, and B.C. premier John Horgan, , has said he would be open to the proposal.

B次元官网网址淚 almost feel like itB次元官网网址檚 50-50,B次元官网网址� said Sunray, when asked about the odds of success. B次元官网网址淭hey have already tried a couple of times to do it.B次元官网网址� As such, British Columbia could be an example for other provinces to follow, said Sunray.

While McDonald and Sunray find encouragement in the statements of Weaver and Horgan, they stress that their efforts are non-partisan. B次元官网网址淧eople are making this a lot about the political parties,B次元官网网址� said Sunray. But that would be a mistake, she said.

B次元官网网址淭his is more about fighting for those who can fight for our future, as well. So we are trying to stand up for them,B次元官网网址� said McDonald. B次元官网网址淐hange should be welcomed, not feared,B次元官网网址� added Sunray.

For now, the duo continues to drum up analog and virtual support under #letusvote. B次元官网网址淲e are just trying to get the news across any way possible,B次元官网网址� said McDonald.

B次元官网网址淲e are 17 and by the time this actually gets passed, it wonB次元官网网址檛 matter for us,B次元官网网址� said Sunray. B次元官网网址淲e are fighting for the people that it will affect in the future.B次元官网网址�