Argentinian lawmakers passed a new measure Wednesday lowering the nation 's voting age to 16 . Representatives in the South American country 's lower house overwhelmingly voted in favor of the law Wednesday . A majority of senators approved it last week . The move to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 comes a year before a key mid-term election in Argentina , and some critics have said it 's an attempt by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her party to garner more votes . Read more : Argentinian president 's cancer surgery called a success . But supporters of the measure say it will give young people more opportunities to participate in politics . `` I think it 's important that the law reflects reality , '' said Rep. Hector Recalde of the Victory Front party . `` Reality indicates that the participation of young people is increasing in our country . It 's good that it 's this way . '' Rep. Eduardo Amadeo of the Peronist Front party offered a more cynical take on the nation 's youth . `` If you ask me what is the worst social problem in Argentina , it is the youth . Education is worse . The consumption of drugs is worse . Employment is worse . Things like teen pregnancy , they are much worse than they were at the beginning of this government , and now the government has discovered them and they say , we are going to vote , '' he said . Nahuel Armando , a student in Buenos Aires , said lowering the voting age would be a positive move . Read more : Argentine law lets people identify own gender . `` I think that any person who thinks he 's capable and who has criteria to vote should do it . I think there are a lot of people in the last few years who have gotten interested , '' he said . But Santiago Tricario , another student , said he was worried political campaigns would interfere with education . `` We are worrying about studies , and once we leave here , we can worry about other things . Read about politics or something else , work , '' he said . `` That 's why I think personally that it would be better if it were left to people who are over 18 to vote . '' With the measure 's passage , nearly 1.5 million Argentinians between 16 and 18 years old will be added to voting rolls . The new rules will apply in next year 's mid-term elections , when half of the seats in the nation 's house , or Chamber of Deputies , and a third of the seats in the Senate will be at stake .
Critics say President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is trying to get more votes . Supporters say the measure gives young people more chances to participate in politics . The bill was approved by a vote of 57 percent with 2 abstentions, according to official results released Wednesday night. Students are split over the proposed measure .