Why can't 16 year olds and 17 year olds vote?

Question

I'm 16, and I feel like my citizenship in this country does not matter. I'm mature, and care about the world, and so do so many other teens. I understand that there are iresponsible teens, but there are irresponsible adults to! I'd like to know why 16 and 17 year olds cannot vote.

Answer 1

The government does not consider you an adult yet. But I do agree that you will find just as much adults imature, then with teenagers.
It's wrong that you are charged taxes on your income, just plain wrong. You are just living in a dictatorship if you cannot vote. Write to a member of your parliment or something, do something about it!

Answer 2

You're rare, if you really do care. Besides, caring isn't everything. A person also really needs to be informed, in order to make the best choice.
No offense to you, and I do speak from experience here, but the teens who are informed enough, and who care enough, are few and far between.
Besides, if I had voted when I was sixteen, I would have been voting for legalizing marijuana, and entirely illegalizing abortion. Yes, I was a strange one. Both of those have changed now, lol.
Anyway, I digress, that's why teens can't vote. The fact is, at sixteen and seventeen, a person usually hasn't learned enough of life to have that kind of responsibility. Actually, I advocate raising the voting age to thirty. And I'm only twenty-five, so I'd have to wait five years before I could vote, lol.

Answer 3

well to answer your question... and your right about the part about the irresponsible adults and also about irresponsible teens. well i guess you can look at it like this anyone that is under 18 can not even purchase cigarettes legally. also when you get into college take a psychology class. they will talk about the brain of pre-teens, teens, pre adults and adults, on how they think and comprehend certain things. In the U.S. you are basically considered an adult or pre- adult at the age of 18, so they give you certain rights like voting , driving by yourself after certain hours, and also smoking. but if your under 18 you cant even sign a written contract. well i mean you can physically but it wouldnt apply in court.

Answer 4

I felt the same way as your age, but, the irresponsible, far out weigh the responsible, plus, if you are still living with your parents, well, that is just going to be another vote for your parents canidate. A lot of your thinking will continue to change in the next few years. You will be surprised that you may end up regretting your vote years later

Answer 5

I'm 17, but I feel that there is a lot of outside influence from parents and school opinions. When your 18 you have a chance to leave your comfort zone and see a better view of the world around you. I believe that 18 for voting is the best for us

Answer 6

The legal voting age is 18 or 17 to vote in primaries where you will be 18 for the following election, that's just the way it is.
Don't rush your youth, it will pass quickly enough.

Answer 7

Because at 18 your considered an adult. I was stupid at 16 and 17, lucky I'm here to type this. When you become and "adult" you're allowed to vote.

Answer 8

I completely agree. I guess they don't believe teenagers can vote because of the wrongful stereotypes portrayed in the media of teenagers. It's all totally wrong, and I hope you write to the congressmen to change it!

Answer 9

Because many of you would write in for Shkira and Paris Hilton, and the country would be almost screwed up as it is now.

Answer 10

there not adults, 18 is the time people normaly grad from high school, that is when you are suppose to step into adult hook,k you know get kicked out of your parents house, get ajob, and pay for stuff on your own,