Why can't teenagers vote?

Answer 1

Most lack maturity to make properly informed decisions. As do many adults.

Answer 2

When the founding fathers began drawing up the country, they wanted to formulate a republic more than a democracy. In a democracy, as in the time of ancient Greece, everyone had a say and could stand up and speak for themselves during large meetings. In an entire country, rather than just a city state, this idea is impossible and impractical. Therefore they developed a system of people voting in order say who they wanted to represent their best intrests. The founding fathers, though, where white protestant males of upper and middle class status, and thus feared the what they considered to be the uneducated and uninformed masses. That is why they developed the electoral college, so that even if a candiate won the popular vote, they would not necessarily become president. If the founding fathers feared the views of adults of their own time, they would certainly not have approved of the views of their youth, or today's youth for that matter. That is why teenagers cannot vote.

Answer 3

Teens can vote at 18&19, but otherwise most teenagers don't realize how important the election is. You see, most candidate discuss topics that we as young teenagers really don't understand or even care about. For instance, when a candidate is currently in office and is running again, typically they will claim to lower taxes but how would we, as teens, know if he went through with this?? We wouldn't because we don't have to pay the bills. At the age of 18 a teen is typically in college and so they are paying their own taxes so they know whether or not the candidate did indeed go through with the tax cut.

Answer 4

The reason is because to vote is an adult decision and until your 18 your legally not an adult. However I do think that the voting age should be 16 rather than 18. Many people start their first real jobs at around 16 and that means they are paying income taxes. If 16 year olds can be considered adult enough to pay income tax than I think they should be allowed to vote.

Answer 5

They can, but only if they're over eighteen.
The reason for that is that most people under the age of eighteen AREN'T responsible enough OR informed enough to be trusted with such a responsibility.
Personally, I don't think a person should be able to vote at eighteen, or even 21. I think thirty would be a good age....even if it does mean that I'd have to wait five more years to vote!

Answer 6

18 and 19 year old teens can vote... however I do not think they should be allowed until age 21 (like drinking), with the stipulation that they could vote at age 18+ if and only if they are active duty military....

IMHO teens do not have the judgement skills or wisdom to vote... as experienced too much on here when teens participate in the political questions

Answer 7

Cause They Still Dont Have The Proper Sense To Judge A Person, Just By His/Her Campaign Speech.
Its The Same Reason Why They Aint Allowed To Drink

Answer 8

Teens can vote. When they're 18 and 19.

Teens still have ALOT to learn. There is nothing wrong or demeaning about this. Even most ADULTS have alot to learn about politics. They go into a voting booth having no idea what party stands for what, or what candidate believes in what, and vote Democrat when their beliefs are Republican, or vote Republican when their beliefs are Democrat.

Answer 9

Because they don't know enough about life to make proper decisions on who should run the country. I think you should be 21 to vote like it used to be...I think even 18 is too young.

Answer 10

I agree with debidel, the voting age should be raised.
Maybe then we would appreciate it enough to look at all sides of an issue before choosing.
I also think participation would go up to 99.9%.

Answer 11

They can vote: 18, 19.