April 24, 2025 – 1:13 PM
In a move that has raised serious concerns about the integrity of local democracy, University–Rosedale Councillor Dianne Saxe successfully passed a motion at City Council allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in Toronto’s neighbourhood polls. These polls are used to gauge public input on proposed changes affecting residents, businesses, and property owners across the city.
This represents a troubling erosion of democratic standards. While civic engagement is important, extending voting rights to minors—who are still in formative stages of development—ignores scientific consensus: the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for judgment, planning, and impulse control, is not fully developed at this age. Teenagers are also more susceptible to peer pressure and ideological influence, and often lack the maturity or life experience needed to critically assess complex civic issues.
In a stunning admission of her true motives, Councillor Saxe stated she hoped this initiative sets a national precedent for extending voting rights to 16-year-olds in all municipal, provincial, and federal general elections.
Several activist groups, including Apathy is Boring and #Vote16, lobbied aggressively for the motion’s passage. These organizations are part of a broader campaign—supported in part by LeadNow, which receives funding from George Soros’ Open Society Foundation—to lower the voting age nationally.
In an online poll with over 23,000 respondents, and overwhelming 87% said they do not support the idea.
IntegrityTO stands firmly against this attempt to dilute the electorate by granting voting rights to minors. We believe that a strong democracy depends on an informed and mature citizenry—not the politicization of children.
