Page 96 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

A sec on of lawmakers had persistently advocated the
lowering of the minimum qualifying age of vo ng from 21
years to 18 years to bring India at par with other liberal
democracies. In 1971, a joint commi ee of Parliament,
recommended the reduc on of the threshold age. In 1978,
several states allowed people of 18 years and above to vote
in local body elec ons. Since the reduc on in qualifying
age required amendment in the Ar cle 326 of the
Cons tu on of India, the then Government introduced
Cons tu on (Sixty Second Amendment) Bill, 1988 in Lok
Sabha on December 13, 1988. On being passed by both
Houses - it was formally enacted on March 28, 1989 as
the Cons tu on (Sixty First Amendment) Act, 1988.
Youth who had completed 18 years as on April 1, 1989 were
allowed to vote in the Tenth General Elec ons held in
November, 1989. As a result, 3.57 crore persons in the age
group of 18 to 21 years were added to the electorate.

'Eager to vote', newly eligible voters in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

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