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1. Young people as voters

2. Young people as political representatives

Young people as voters

In Slovakia, citizens gain the right to vote at the age of 18 for all levels of elections, including:

• Local and regional elections
• National parliamentary elections
• Presidential elections
• European Parliament elections
• Referenda

There are no imminent plans to lower the voting age, although discussions have taken place. However, no formal legislative proposals or parliamentary negotiations are currently underway.

There are no special provisions in electoral law specifically targeting young voters. However, general provisions apply equally to all citizens, including voting from hospitals or during home treatment and voting while in prison.

Youth Voter Turnout

• In the 2023 national parliamentary elections, approximately 185,000 people aged 18–21 were eligible to vote for the first time. Voter turnout in the 18–25 age group reached 69% of the total number of eligible voters in this age category, representing a significant increase compared to 65% turnout in 2020. A total of 58,779 voters participated from abroad. However, there are no statistical data tracking how many first-time voters from this group actually took part in the elections.
• In the 2024 European Parliament elections, youth participation increased:
  • Age 18–30 at 11% (2019) to 16.7%. In total, 728,400 young people participated in the elections.
  • Overall turnout in Slovakia was 22.74%, the lowest among EU member states.

The 2024 European Parliament (EP) elections in Slovakia recorded the highest voter turnout in the country’s history, reaching 34.38%. This represents a significant increase compared to 2019, when turnout was 22.74%.

Additionally, mock elections have been organized in cooperation with regional youth councils and schools to promote civic education. In 2023, 160 secondary schools took part in the mock elections to the National Council. A total of 25,210 students cast their ballots. As part of the mock elections to the European Parliament in 2024, more than 11,000 students from 200 secondary schools participated.

Young people as political representatives

Young people in Slovakia can:

• Join political parties from the age of 18, according to the Act on Political Movements and Political Parties.
• While there are no official youth wings mandated by law, most political parties have informal youth organizations, typically open to individuals aged 15–35.

Candidacy in Elections

• The minimum age to stand as a candidate at local, regional, national, and European levels is 18 years.
• Candidates must be permanent residents of the constituency in which they are running.
• There are no quotas or reserved seats for young people in representative bodies.
• No specific legal provisions exist to facilitate youth candidacy beyond general eligibility.

Youth Representation in Assemblies

• There is no official data on the average age or proportion of young people in the current National Council or other assemblies.
• No functions within representative assemblies are formally reserved for young people.