BUENOS AIRES, Nov 1: Argentina on Wednesday night approved a law to lower the legal voting age to 16 in a move that could strengthen President Cristina Kirchner’s populist bloc ahead of next year’s legislative elections.

The Chamber of Deputies approved the bill — which was sponsored by Kirchner’s former chief of staff and had already passed the Senate — by 131 votes in favour to two against and one abstention.

Voting is compulsory for Argentines aged 18 and older — some 29 million people — but will be optional for those aged 16 and 17, some one million people.—AFP