University students are calling on the government to reconsider its decision not to allow youths aged under 18 the right to vote in the spring hunting referendum to be held on April 11.

The university group Studenti Demokristjani Maltin said the decision to allow youths to vote in local council elections on the same day should be extended to the referendum.

“We believe it is a perfect chance for the government to make this historical vote much more valuable,” the SDM said.

They added the referendum should not be politicised, and young voters could be given the chance to cast their first vote in a logical manner, undisrupted by political agenda.

“Although the petition was submitted before the legislative changes, we ask the government to reconsider this decision and take the necessary steps required to give youths a chance to make their voices matter in this referendum,” the group said, adding it would be a great step forward for the country.

The group’s call was backed by the Nationalist Party youth movement, which slammed the government for refusing to grant nearly 10,000 youths the right to vote in the referendum.