The student organisation SDM has expresses concern that youths aged 16 to 18 will not be given the right to vote in the spring hunting referendum even though they will be voting in council elections on next April 11.

In a statment, SDM said this was the perfect chance for the government to make the referendum historical vote much more valuable.

“By giving youths aged 16 to 18 the chance to express their voice by voting in a referendum which is not to be politicised and concerns the well being of the Maltese environment, the young voters would be given a chance to cast their first vote in a logical manner, undisrupted by political agenda.”

SDM pointed out that although the petition for the referendum was submitted before the legislative changes, it asked the government to reconsider its decision and take the necessary steps to give young people a chance to make their voices count in the referendum.

“This would be a great step forward for our country which builds on the work previously done in being a reformative and modern state,” SDM said.