Voting Age

[Above_70Percent]

When many people are young, they dream of being president and changing the world. These dreams are supported by their parents, partially because it?s a far off goal and partially because it is the epitome of the American dream: anyone can make themselves into something great. Once we reach the age of eighteen, we have the power to truly change the world, to be presidents in our own ways. We have the power to vote. However, by the age of eighteen, people become jaded. They know the world is a big place to save and not everyone can be president. They underestimate their power and thus, neglect to vote. Due to this, it has become increasingly evident that a change in voter power is necessary. The voting age should be lowered to sixteen.

Roughly one third of all Americans are registered to vote. However, only one quarter of the population takes advantage of this right. Democracy has eroded away. People freely criticize the leaders that they neglected to vote for or against. The nation has slipped away from the cornerstone it was founded upon. Despite the relatively indifferent nature of the American masses, there is an up and coming generation who would give nearly anything to vote.

Perhaps a certain excitement is a natural part of youth, but countless high school students are rallying behind the concept of voting. Freedom?s Answer, a group founded and mostly run by high school students, encourages adults who would not normally vote to practice their American rights. The interest is there.
Some argue that at sixteen, a person is not intelligent enough to make the decision of voting. However, logically, of the sixteen year olds who would be able to vote, the ones who would turn out would by the ones who are best able to make an educated decision. The unintelligent members of that age group probably wouldn?t even know there was an election, let alone be willing to vote in it. Additionally, many of the intelligent high schoolers who are unable to vote due to age restrictions are probably more intelligent, more involved with current issues, than some of their elders who simply do not vote. The assumption that high school students are all superficial and silly may apply to some, but that association has become the result of media depiction, not actual behavior.

At the very least, they young Americans deserve a voice. Perhaps their vote could be worth one half or one third the value of a normal vote, but even at a decreased value, a vote is a vote. These Americans are feeling the ramifications of voting, from driving restrictions to increased taxes, to a slightly alarming economy which they will have to soon go and join.

Current events have forced this generation to grow up more quickly than many. They understand the world into which they are growing up into. They should have to chance to change this world before it is theirs.

I vote yes, what do you vote?

[AxL]

I think voting for people, who can't support them selves or think for them selves, is a bad idea. Think about it, the parents may pressure them to vote democrat, republican, or what have you. Kids are very gullible, and underestimating that fact can have harsh consequences.

Although the idea of getting younger kids involved is a good idea, I think there are much better ways. For example, when I was in grammar school, in '96 the school held a small unofficial election. There were three candidates- Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, and Rose Perot (I think it was Rose). So you checked off who you would like to be in office, and the school tallied the votes up. I forgot who exactly won, but that is irrelevant. The idea is something like this can be a good thing. It is getting the kids involved without actually any meaning.

[amrtin77]

i say 17. if 17 is old enough to fight and die for this country then its old enough to smoke, drink, gamble, and vote.

[IDefy]

It should be increased, the 18-24 age group votes less than any other, why? They simply don't care. It should be taken away as some sort of statement to todays youth and be pushed back until age 21, even though many adolescence are still not mature enough to handle a minimum wage job let alone drink or vote for our nations leader.

[darkrionis]

I think that maybe there still should be an age limit of 18 when everyone can vote, but there should be like a test of some sort you could take when your 16 that tests your maturity. And if you pass you could vote 2 years before everyone else. This would definately help those that are ready and want to vote get that chance. And it would help politics get a new wave of educated voters.

[B)ushid(o]

I agree with amrtin77. If you're old enough to fight and die for the country, then you should be old enough to vote. The voting age should be lowered to 17. If basically of the people I know, know how to vote intelligently, then I'm sure a lot of 17 year olds should know.

Why vote if there's no one on the ballot that you like? It's better to not vote than to waste a vote. If there's nobody that you like voting anyway would have a detrimental effect on the country.

[Emperor Pan I]

the thing u have to learn, is u need to vote like a Canadian. u pick which arrogant prick will screw up your country least and u vote

[AxL]

Originally posted by amrtin77
i say 17. if 17 is old enough to fight and die for this country then its old enough to smoke, drink, gamble, and vote.

I thought it was 18....

[amrtin77]

you can join the military at 17 with parental consent. my dad did.

[Above_70Percent]

Ah pan, so your are trying to say do something like Englands system? Which I forgot the name was, I think its an ism but I just got a brain freeze. I think that would be great for a newly developed country (such as Iraq) but for a country as ours whom our form of government has been on for 200+ plus years and works very well, we feel no need to change it. But there are a few "kinks" that some of us want to work out.

And darkirony there is no way u can make a "test" to test maturaity. It wuould be very easy to lie or cheat on it.

[jd-inflames]

Martin, your dad is probably a bit older than you...hopefully. Times were a little bit differently back then and they probably did allow it back then. In todays society, you need to be 18 with either a High School diploma or a GED.

As for voting ages, I think that they are fine where they are. The majority of the teenagers in society today either don't care, or would only take voting as a joke. I would estimate that only 15% or less would even take the right seriously.

I just registered to vote the other day (I'm a month shy of 19)...They REALLY shouldn't ask what party you are...beings I support neither. I'm one of those people who want to look at the mans speeches before choosing a party...I put republican, but who knows what I will do. That should be the real debate, not age...but the argument on wether or not they take off party preference on the registration sheet!

[Emperor Pan I]

I can drink and gamble at the age of 18

[jd-inflames]

Are you a US citizen? I thought not...

I can gamble at the age of 18...as long as there isn't any alcohol being served...

[amrtin77]

eh... dads 20 years older than me. i went to the marine recruiter and he told me to come back when i was 17. i could check though. im pretty sure your allowed to join the military at 17 if your parents are ok with it.

he signed up when he was 17 (forced by his parents ) but had to finish high school before he left home.


edit: went to the marine webpage. it is 17.


http://www.marines.com/enlisted_mari...p?format=flash

You can join the Marines when you reach 17 years of age, and also upon entering your senior year in high school, as long as you have your parents' consent.

[Forged]

In todays society, you need to be 18 with either a High School diploma or a GED.

Several people from my school have enlisted in the army at 17 coming into their sr. year of hs. They are usally used for recruiting purposes. However if the need arises they can be sent to war.

[Above_70Percent]

Your allowed to sign up and go to training at 17, but you are not eligible for war. (Geneva Convention) But you are eligible for war if you have past high school, and have a diploma.

[jd-inflames]

Around here you can get in at 17 though (National Guard...not the real thing) and you go through training and everything...but you don't really start getting anywere in the services till you turn 18. Hell...you have to register for the draft 3 months after your 18th b-day or they CAN have you arrested...I didn't do it till 9 months after my 18th, but hah..they are too slow for me

[Above_70Percent]

Rofl , what did you sign up for? I woulda signed up for marine corps, but personal problems came up, and I'm going to school now so it's all good

[Magikarp]

I don't think the right to vote should be based off of age. I think it should be based upon your intelligence; iE, people should be given a test that can be graded by a machine. Age is such a vague and indecent way of selecting voters.

But since that will probably never happen, I'd have to agree with amrtin: 17.

[Forged]

I think it should be based upon your intelligence;

That sir would be unconstituional...