Calls for over 60s to be given less power in elections

An opinion piece published online has sparked the ire of over 60s across the country thanks to its radical proposal that the votes of seniors should be less valuable than those of the youth in future elections and referendums.

The article was written by Dr Piero Moraro, a lecturer in justice studies at Charles Sturt University, who says seniors shouldn’t get as much say in the future of the country because they won’t be around as long to deal with the outcome.

He proposes that people who are under 60 years old should be granted more votes and older people fewer votes.

According to Dr Moraro, politicians pay more attention to older voters and don’t have enough policies geared toward the younger generation.

“As we witnessed yet again on the lead-up to this election, the two major parties tend to ignore the interests of young voters in favour of those of the older ones,” he writes.

“Younger voters are less concerned with ‘economic management’, superannuation, border protection, and are interested in rising university fees, job insecurity, unaffordable housing. Not only does this disparity impact negatively on their engagement with politics; it is seriously unfair.

“Younger voters should rather receive more attention from politicians, because they will have to live longer with the consequences of the electoral outcome.”

This view is in stark contrast to that of many seniors who say they feel they are largely forgotten by politicians as they struggle with low pensions, high costs of living, and difficulty finding work.

Besides, just because younger voters don’t care as much about their superannuation and the economy does it mean the whole country should forget about it?

Surely we need older voters to be thinking about these things, while the younger voters focus on what interests them? Isn’t that the whole point of a democracy?

The article has divided many with some throwing their support behind it and others ridiculing the writer for his suggestion.

What are your thoughts?

Should over 60’s votes count for less? Or is this a bad idea?