Should the voting age be lowered (Please Read Details Before Answering)?

Question

I am one who believes that the voting age should be lowered to age 16.

If you are 16 years old you can get a job. The federal government takes income taxes and Social Security out of your paycheck but, as a 16 year old, you have no say on how that money is spent. By lowering the voting age these kids are given representation.

Further, they become more civic minded by participating in the process.

Finally it requires politicians to work harder, It's easier to market yourself to a small group of people.

Not intelligent enough? This was the same argument made by those who did not want women or blacks to vote. Further, intellectual capacity is not a requirement to vote. For example, we do not require all voters to have a high school diploma.

Not mature enough? Who here doesn't know an immature 18 year old? Who here doesn't know a mature, responsible 16 year old?

My point is, if you're gonna answer "no," give us a better reason than "gutt instinct."

Answer 1

I agree and you have a strong point. If you have to pay taxes you should be able to decide where and how it should be spent.

Answer 2

Well if you spend about an hour watching MTV you can see how easily young people are led around by the lips by marketing people. 16 is way to young and would truly open up a new target group for political marketing. We already vote for cookie cutter candidates, John Kerry in the last election tried to get elected by looking like John Kennedy but he had no platform. Sorry, I don't think its a good idea but I know where this idea actually comes from. I am a lifelong Dem and a member of a political action committee and have heard this one before from party leaders who think that 16 year olds would be easily led and easily fooled and since our national Party has nothing of substance to offer it might be a way to pick up new voters to fool. After all, dude, go to the mall and look how everyone looks alike, talks alike, dresses alike, listens to the same music, shops the same stores, buys the same styles (which and changed six months later so you will do it again). Sorry, ain't gonna work and is not a good idea.

Answer 3

in short, no.

In the US, 18 year olds are considered to be adults. In the 1970's the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 by President Nixon.

While there are some mature 16 year olds, there has to be a cutoff somewhere.

Remember, even in the Constitution there are certain cutoffs just to be a Representative, Senator, and President.

Answer 4

I would have no objection to giving 16 year olds the vote if they were not in school. At that age, they are too easily influenced by their teachers. It takes years to get over the brainwashing that happens in school. On the other hand, I would allow 13 year olds to drive. It is a lot easier to teach a 13 year old anything than it is to convince a 16 year old that they might not always be right.

(Been there, done that and often wonder what I was thinking when I was sixteen)

Answer 5

Excellent question and reason why, but I would say no, although good point on paying taxes when you get a job. But to me you are one of the few teenagers who actually care or who might actually understand politics and the true need of our great country. See the teenagers I know either don't care, or if they do they go by what there parents or peers tell them about who is good or bad, and most teenagers are very easily influenced. Now I'm not old by any means I'm 28 and I still know what it was to be a teenager, so its not like I'm some old man thinking that kids know nothing. Obviously you proved with your question and description, that you are intelligent. Once again excellent question and glad to see you care.

Answer 6

I don't think so, when I was 16 I was to worried about school and getting a car and working to pay any attention to the elections. Now that I'm older I understand it more and actually have time to watch everything. Everyone is different and there are a lot of 16 year olds that probably know a lot more than me and if they want to take a stand and try to get it changed than good for them. I'm on nobodies side here. I just think that if you are going to vote...don't go and vote for who you parents want you to pick. Another option if the age is lowered...we should have more classes in school discussing the debates.

Answer 7

NO
1- Because the line has to be drawn somewhere
2- 16 year olds can't be sent to war- should we change that law as well?
3- The 18 year old's barely go out and vote, what makes you think many 16 year olds would
4- "Finally it requires politicians to work harder..."- what do you mean it is easier to market yourself to a small group of people...are you saying everyone over 18 is a small group and marketing the 16 and 17 year olds would make the politicians work harder???
5- You wrote about them taking income taxes etc. 16 year olds, in general, probably contribute very little as a whole group being that they are still in school.

Answer 8

Have you read some of the answers from people 40 years old in here?.. I do not want to insult you, but kids these days have been doing some pretty strange things and are to impressionable to allow that..

Better for you to watch, wait and listen to what some of the issues are, then when your old enough, you can have your list ready to go cast that vote.. Enjoy your first 18 years and talk to your parents and let them know your views.. In short, learn how to communicate what you believe would be good for the country and listen in return to what adults think..

That is what good leaders do while they are in the making, but I do just love your sense of duty!!..

Can't wait until you are old enough and your vote becomes an asset to the American people.. Good luck and God Bless you!!

Answer 9

I think you just gave the answer yourself - they're still kids. Only adults have the right to vote and with good cause. Even if a fair percentage of 16-18 year olds are of sound mind, the majority aren't.

So what's next? Because a 14 year old is responsible and capable they should be allowed all these rights as well?

Answer 10

I also know some responsible 9 year olds. this does not mean that they deserve the vote either. There are many legal rights that are granted to people, and they have to wait until they reach majority before they can be exercised.
The age is an objective determinor, that does not base itself on subjective factors.
Perhaps, as the late Robert A. Heinlein wrote, a person should be required to solve a complex quadratic equation or deposit a large sum of cash in order to cast a ballot.

Answer 11

The answer is NO, 16 year old children don't have their brains completely grown to capacity, and their logic centers are all in a whack while they grow through puberty. They don't have the ability to make rational decisions for adults.