How did young voters use their right to vote in the 2024 European elections, given the lowering of the voting age to 16 in Belgium and Germany? Along the three dimensions of mobilization, politicization and representation, the authors analyse the voting behaviour of young people in four member states where voting was allowed from the age of 16. Contrary to expectations that a younger voting age would help mobilize first-time voters, politically socialize them and close a critical representation gap, the authors find at most a marginal mobilization of first-time voters in the 2024 European elections. Although the heterogeneous voting behaviour of young people indicates a certain politicization, it also questions an improved substantial representation of “youth-specific interests” through the inclusion of young people in the electorate. Nevertheless, the voting age of 16 can contribute to a short-term politicization of young people and is welcomed as a symbolic political measure by many affected first-time voters, feeling recognized as fully-fledged citizens.