The Centre for Good Governance (CGG) has called for the voting age in The Gambia to be lowered to 16, warning that the continued exclusion of 16- and 17-year-olds from elections is weakening democratic legitimacy in a country with a predominantly young population.

Unveiling new research, the organisation said more than half of Gambians are under the age of 25, yet a significant portion of this group remains formally shut out of the political process.

Presenting the findings at a press conference at the Bakadaji Hotel, CGG’s founder and executive director, Alasan Sowe, stressed that the study was not an advocacy or protest document but an evidence-based assessment grounded in international best practice.

“The Gambia faces a growing democratic legitimacy challenge arising from the continuous exclusion of citizens aged 16 and 17 from electoral participation,” he said.

“Denying formal political voice to such a large segment of the youth creates a representation gap that undermines trust in democratic institutions.”

The report, titled Expanding Youth Suffrage in The Gambia, draws on survey data, including Afrobarometer findings, which suggest that around half of young Gambians believe the government is not doing enough to address their needs.

CGG argues that lowering the voting age could help reverse this trend by encouraging early civic engagement and fostering long-term participation in democratic processes.

The study points to experiences from countries including Austria, Scotland, Brazil and Argentina, where 16- and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote in certain elections.

According to the research, early enfranchisement in these countries has been associated with higher voter turnout over time and stronger democratic inclusion.

Rather than an immediate nationwide change, CGG is proposing a gradual and voluntary approach. Under the proposal, 16- and 17-year-olds would first be allowed to vote in local government elections, with the possibility of extending the reform to parliamentary elections at a later stage.

Presidential elections would be excluded from the initial reforms.

The research also outlines the legal and institutional steps required to implement such changes, including constitutional amendments, strengthened civic education programmes and closer collaboration between the National Assembly, the Independent Electoral Commission, civil society organisations and development partners.

CGG said the debate over voting age reform is not only about youth empowerment but about safeguarding the future of the country’s democracy.

“In a youthful society like The Gambia,” the report concludes, “inclusive participation is essential to restoring public trust and ensuring that democratic institutions reflect the voices of all citizens.”

By Adama Makasuba