Actually if you think about it, voting and fighting a war are quite unrelated. It makes for good sound bites when you juxtapose them (which I did) but in reality, 18 year olds should be allowed to vote because they are old enough and mature enough, not because they are men of war.

Anon – I think it may be possible for the oppo to argue for shorten NS (say from 2 years to 1.5 years for non-officers), but it won’t be right, nor politically astute to argue for the complete end to conscription. For Nixon, it was about stopping the draft so that young men will stop being sent to their death to fight in some civil war on the other side of the globe.

From wikipedia “During the 1968 presidential election, Richard Nixon campaigned on a promise to end the draft”

If the opposition wants to make an issue of it, it will be quite easy as extensive research has already been done on the economic costs of conscription.

Another possible reason for the government not wanting to lower the voting age to 18: a fear of campus politicization, especially at Polytechnic level.

After the Tan Wah Piow NUS activism era, my impression is that some of the edgier student politics occured in Singapore Poly. A few representatives of the SP union were locked up in the late 80s Marxist conspiracy. My little theory.

If anyone cares enough about this issue to campaign actively for it, I think a slogan juxtaposing the duties of NS vs the lack of a right to vote would be quite effective. “Old enough to go to War, not old enough to vote”.

fievel – THanks. :)

Alfonso – I agree with you that 17 would be appropriate too. But I’m also realistic enough to know that getting them to reduce it to 18 (in line with 90% of the democratic world) would be hard enough, so we’ll take things step by step.

Ryan – I wouldn’t assume that all 18 year old males would be pissed at NS and vote for the opposition. I think most Singaporeans, myself included, accept the necessity of NS even if we may grumble a lot about it. Fyi the opposition (at least the WP) also supports NS, so it isn’t really an election issue.

Absalom – Singapore is different from the US in that voting is compulsory here. So if 18, 19 and 20-year olds were enfranchised, they would ALL have to vote.

Your reasonings are sound and logical. At the age of 18, many would be studying or completing their A levels or polytechnic education. They should be in a good position to make responsible decisions.

I would even propose for the age to be reduced to 17, because at 17 they would have completed their secondary 4 education, and waiting to be called up for National Service.