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DR NORMAN Vasu's letter on Wednesday, 'If they're old enough to defend Singapore...', argued that the voting age should be linked to the age at which young men enter national service.
The suitable voting age for an individual is not best defined by any single eligibility qualification. The approach we have taken is a practical one with a gradual increase in rights and responsibilities of an individual leading up to the age of 21.
Typically at 21 years old, the individual would either be working or pursuing tertiary studies. At that age also, nearly all the limitations linked to age are removed.
This includes the right at that age to renounce one's citizenship to take up a foreign citizenship. Thus, it does not follow that the voting age should coincide with the national service call-up age.
We think our model has worked well. These are matters that each society has to decide for itself, and, of course, in such matters, the rules must keep pace with changes in society as well.
S. Radha (Ms)
Head, Corporate Communications,
Ministry of Law
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