I think current youth is more engaged in politics than all of the previous generation. Mainly thanks to Internet. Personally, I feel it is totally random to have an age limit of 18, sure this is when you become a "legal adult", but how different is a 17 year old and an 18 year old really? Or an 18 year old and a 21 year old? The voting age can be any age and there can be requirements such as tests to be allowed to vote. Nothing will, however, change the fact that democracy sucks. What theoretical and practical difference would it make to let 15 year olds vote?
Hmmmm...Is that the qualification, you say? A HS-diploma? My grandmother and many from her generation only went to school for six years - Should they lose their voting right? I still rest firmly on the notion that no one should have the right to vote.
At 18, a child has had a chance to finish their education and be an educated member of society, as well has been able to accumulate their own life experiences away from mom and dad.
Because they are kids and don't care about such things yet. Why some people want to hurry them along into adulthood, I don't know. As far as I'm concerned, adulthood and adult responsibility comes soon enough. Let the kids enjoy their childhood for the short time that it lasts! Leave them kids alone!
This is nothing that requires any education. Literally anyone can put a piece of paper into a cardboard-box. I am all for raising, lowering and even abolishing the voting-right. All of them make sense to me.
The problem is that politicians do not leave the kids alone! This is exactly why it makes sense for them to have the right to vote. What is the worst thing that can happen if kids could vote?
Voting is not about putting a piece of paper in a cardboard box. You see? If this is what people in your age group believe, then you shouldn't be surprised by adults who do not want you voting.
Well, my democracy-bashing rests on a very biased ground; I'm a Minarchist and therefore absolutely hate the government and do not have much for the concept of democracy. Edit: Just noticed it was your two year anniversary on PF a few years ago; belated congratz fo' that!
Theres' nothing in the Constitution prohibiting a lower voting age than 18. In my quick google search, I couldn't find a federal law that prohibited a lower voting age than 18. I think it's up to the states. They can not stop 18 year olds from voting, but I do believe that they can allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote.
Can you imagine how better this country would be if that was the case (voting privilege based on IQ)? But I doubt the Dems would like that idea since their party would essentially no longer exist. Nice thought though!
What should the minimum IQ have to be then? Makes more sense to have IQ-requirements to enter politics tbh.
If 'immature and clueless' are disqualifying features, we need to revoke voting rights for about 80% of this board (left and right).
I would agree, like the drinking age I believe that both the voting and military eligibility age should both be raised to 21.