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In this editorial cartoon it shows a father telling his son that him and the boy's mother are going to go vote. The boy, disappointed, then says how he wishes how they would lower the voting age so that he can vote. As his dad leaves he say says that they would never let kids his age vote causing the boy to say, “Why not? They bicker like kids my age!” The father represents the adults who are allowed to vote that believe adolescents are too young to vote and Curtis represents kids who want to vote. Curtis saying “Why not? They bicker like kids my age?” represents how politics and other adults fight childishly over certain laws and debates. The meaning of this cartoon is that adolescents are told that they are too immature to vote when the adults who do vote argue and act like they are kids.

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The Voting Age Should Not be Lowered to 16

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The Voting Age Should Not be Lowered to 16

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This cartoon shows two teens texting on their phones while waiting in line for the voting booth. One teen says “My mom says I should vote for Decologero” and the other teen says, “My history teacher told me to vote for Disalvo.” The teens texting represents their distractions to their phones and their captions represent how they are not making the choice themselves. The meaning is that adolescent minds are too easily influenced in order to make their own choices on who they should vote for.

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Lowering the Voting Age Limit is Not the Solution to Youth Marginalization

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Lowering the Voting Age Limit is Not the Solution to Youth Marginalization

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With the recent events regarding laws that would greatly affect the students of America, many people expect to hear their voices. But when these adolescents are seen as immature, are their concerns really being listened to? This has once again brought up the topic of whether or not the age limit for voting should be lowered to 16 and 17 year-olds.

Although hearing the voice of the younger generation is important, lowering the age limit is not the solution to finding out what is right for the nation. The voting age of 18 is when people are more aware of the world around them and have had the chance to form their own political opinion for themselves.

Being able to vote comes with the responsibility of being aware of what people are voting for and the effect it would have on their community. According to a Wall Street Journal article, “Lower Voting Age Gains Traction,” Emma Court, states that voters at that young age would most likely make an uneducated vote or just follow the example of their parental figures. This sways the outcome in a different way than it could have if the person would have made their own educated vote. Court also quotes Michael Higgs, a Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party in Maryland, who says, “They (about teenagers) really don’t have the time to pay close attention to these political races and make decisions at the polling booth.” This suggests that students do not have the capacity to worry about political issues along with their schoolwork.

Even though there are issues with low turnout of voters that are 18-24 years old, lowering the voting age is not going to resolve the issue. In an article from the New Internationalist titled, “Should 16-year-olds Get the Vote?” Andrew Mycock, a Politics Academic, proposes that, “Focusing on lowering the voting is a symptom-led response which does not seek to address the causes of youth democratic marginalization.” This conveys that lowering the age requirement is not going to directly solve the issue of excluding younger people from mainstreams that are political, social and economic.

Others believe that lowering the voting limit would be for other incentives other than just including teenagers in politics and that it would cause more problems. In a PBS article entitled, “Lawmakers Across U.S. Move to Include Young People in Voting,” Joel Anderson, a Senator from San Diego, commented that, “... he worried it would make voter rolls less accurate...” The voter roll is what allows the government to see who is qualified and registered to vote in a certain district. The disruption of the voter roll would yield inaccurate results. He also suggests that lowering the voting age is an effort to receive more Democratic votes, causing an obvious influence in voting results.

There could be benefits to the lowering of voting age, for voting allows the younger generations to let their voice be heard and help shape the community that they will be living in. The New Internationalist article titled, “Should 16-year-olds Get the Vote?” Chanté Joseph, a UK Youth Parliament member, says that, “...the experience of political participation is far more valuable than pen and paper.” As well as, “...we are essentially awakening the politically dormant minds of young people.” The participation of the younger population in voting will improve their political skills, for getting experience in real life is more beneficial than just studying it. Though this can be true, Andrew Mycock, from the same article, mentions that teenagers themselves have protested that they are not knowledgeable enough about mainstream politics to be able to partake in them thoroughly.

Adolescents should be provided better methods to hear the voice of the youth while  maintaining the same age limit to vote. There has to be more ways for minors to be able to participate than just waiting to be a legal adult, for their voices do matter.

The voting age limit has to remain the same, for lowering it would not be a solution for the issues of marginalization in this day and age.

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The Fight to Lower the Legal Voting Age to 16

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The Fight to Lower the Legal Voting Age to 16

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Arguments are being born in the wake of the modern era. This time, the topic at hand is whether or not 16 year olds should be given the right to vote. With a responsibility so great the public questions if these young teenagers should be given that kind of important responsibility and decision so early in their life.

In our modern and digital era the youth of this country have proven that, they are much more capable than any other generation so far. The legal voting age should be lowered to 16 years old.

A New York times article on this matter gives insight into how our minds work based on our age, psychologists distinguish different types of intellectual capacities by referring to “hot” or “cold” cognitive. During calm situations where there is time to think and reason with facts is when the “cold” cognitive abilities are in use. This would be most useful in a situation of voting. So studies show that the human ability to use “cold” cognitive is mature by the age of 16.

In some countries like Austria, the legal age to vote at a federal election has been lowered to 16 years old. This example is brought up to test the psychology of political interest. Teenagers have been tested for how interested they are before and after they were given the option to have a vote in an election. A study has been conducted on how teenagers political interest changed from 2004 16-17 year olds compared to 2008 16-17 year old that were given the opportunity to vote and have a say. The percent of teenagers who were interested in politics changed from “8.1% to 21.8%” according to a study by the University of Vienna.

An article by The Economist states the Austria example as well, that country has been one of the only few that allow 16 year olds to vote in all elections.Which transitions into the apparent fact that being able to vote early promotes young people to vote more often quickly. American voters under 25 for presidential elections fell from 50% in 1972 to 38% in 2012. Although in Austria the voter turnout rates for under 18 year olds are marked higher than 19 to 25 year olds.

Every time this topic is brought up in politics and debates it is almost always not taken seriously by most of the public. People may claim teenagers such as 16 year olds are too immature, Irresponsible, and still going through puberty so do not know how to make logical decisions yet. Although these claims are not backed by any scientific evidence and only supported by stereotypes and cliches. As for the puberty argument, and addressed earlier in the editorial, there is real scientific evidence which refutes that argument and goes in favor of a 16 year old being given the option to vote.

This is a difficult subject to solve. Lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 is a significant change. This is why it is suggested that instead of passing such a significant law, it can be passed slowly. At first local elections, then state level, then at a federal level.

16 year olds are being directly affected by problems that need to change and need solving. The 16 year olds are the future of our country so it is about time the U.S. starts taking their youth seriously. Change needs to happen, and whether it be over the course of an amount of time or overnight, This is a problem that needs to be addressed and not scoffed at by officials and the public.