If we lower the voting age, then 16-year-olds should be charged as adults too.

Not at all. The justice system and the voting system serve different purposes, so treating 16 and 17-year-olds differently in each isn’t a contradiction.

In the justice system, young people are often dealt with in the youth court to help them rehabilitate and avoid reoffending. But for serious crimes, 14 to 17-year-olds can still be tried in the adult court. So the system already recognises that young people can be responsible –depending on the situation.

Voting, on the other hand, is a calm, considered decision not an impulsive decision. Research shows that 16 and 17-year-olds are just as capable as adults when it comes to making “cold decisions” like voting (see the reason on cognition for a bit more of an explainer on this).

Finally, our campaign is about the right to vote, not other legal ages.Our Supreme Court case was all about the clash between the right to vote and 16-year-olds' right to be free from age discrimination. It does not affect any other legal ages such as the drinking age, the jury duty age, or the age of criminal responsibility.