Senate debates bills that could give 16 year olds, foreigners the vote

The Senate began debating two bills that, if passed into law, would allow young people between the age of 16 and 18 to vote, as well as foreigners who have been living in the country for two years.

The Constitutional Affairs Committee began a public hearing at around 9am this morning, in which Victory Front bloc's Senator Aníbal Fernández ratified that it will not be mandatory, "but optional."

Meanwhile, the Electoral national director, Alejandro Tullio, defended the "optional" vote of the youngsters.

Regarding the foreigners vote bill, Fernández assured "they are two different bills" and that the initiative states that it "would allow the vote of those who have lived in the country for the last five years."

Meanwhile, anti-Kirchnerite Senator Adolfo Rodríguez Saá assured that giving the foreigners the chance to vote "downgrades Argentina's values."

According to Rodríguez Saá, the government-sponsored bill "is focused in earning new easy votes," and added that "allowing the foreigners to vote is blasting democracy."