Civics Voting Age Debate

Title of Article Link

Should 16-Year-Olds Have the Right to
Vote?
http://globalcitizendaily.com/story/academic-
edge/2012/03/should-16-year-olds-have-the-right-to-
vote
Lower the voting age to 16: pros and
cons
http://www.ibtimes.com/lower-voting-age-16-pros-
cons-284855
5 Arguments for Lowering the Voting
Age
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/5-
arguments-lowering-voting-age
Takoma Park Teens to Vote for the
First Time Tuesday
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Takoma-
Park-Teens-to-Vote-for-First-Time-Tuesday-
230498141.html
Lowering the Voting Age

http://www.fairvote.org/reforms/right-to-vote-
amendment/lowering-the-voting-age/
Teens Not Mature Enough to Have
Voting Privileges
www.wvgazettemail.com/news/201211020117
Should the US Lower the Voting Age
Scholastic
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=56
28

Three Arguments
1. If youre going to vote, youre informed or will inform yourself. Government classes in
schools do a lot of that.
2. When youre 16/17, youre in your home state so youre more comfortable to cast your
first vote. The younger you start voting, the more likely you are to keep voting.
3. 16/17 year olds drive, pay taxes, and can be criminally tried as an adult, so why cant we
vote?



Daniana & Ana
We believe that the voting age should be lowered to 16. Our first reason...
1. With voting, it all comes down to what you know and what you want to know about the
candidates. In our generation, we have evolved electronically meaning we have more ways of
gaining information; the internet isnt the only way that we can get information. For example,
most teens dont want to sit around and watch the news. For them, there is a show called The
Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he takes actual news and turns it into funny skits while still
giving the same information. This engages teens with the comedic sense while also giving them
basic information about the voting and what each candidate stands for.

2. Another reason why we should lower the voting age is, teens also get information from
History classes. In History every year teens are informed about voting and the rules that must be
followed in order to vote. Also they are informed about the two candidates running for president.
Given information about their background, what they stand for and their political parties. For
example in Germany, they lowered the voting age to 16-17 and studies show that the group of
16-17 voted more than the 18-24 group. These statistics show most 16-17 year olds have these
history classes meaning they have more knowledge to vote, meaning they are more prepared. .


Carolina & Savannah
2. In Germany, the voting age for local elections was lowered to 16. More 16 and 17 year
olds showed up than 18-24 year olds to vote. Before this, people had thought that because the
percentage of voters aged 18-24 was already low, the percentage for those aged 16-17 would be
even lower (Laskow). But thats not what happened.
Youre more likely to cast your first vote if the first election you can vote in is closer to
your 18th birthday (Lowering). Lowering the voting age would cause a rise in voting because
itll get teens into the habit earlier. Between the ages of 16 and 17, teens are in school and are
able to discuss politics both at school and at home. Their school is most likely a voting place,
which is easily accessible. Plus, it is more encouraging to first time voters to be in a comfortable
place. This is compared to 18 year olds, who are more difficult to get to vote because theyre in
college and its not a priority for them. They would also have to fill out an absentee ballot if
they were out of state, which is much more difficult than just going into a voting booth.
Countries like Austria, Argentina, Germany and the United Kingdom have already
lowered the voting age in local elections (Lowering). Its worked out fine for them so far, and
its likely that it will also work for us.


Dijanira & Jessie
Our last reason on why 16 year old should vote is3. 16/17 year olds drive, pay taxes, and can
be criminally tried as an adult, so why cant we vote? If us teens can trial as an adult why cant
we vote as an adult. Even though we are young it can educate us about politics and government.
The NYRA(National Youth Rights Association) argues that lowering the voting age to 16 will
teach young people about the democratic process, and give them the opportunity to represent
opinions unique to teenagers and children.
If 16/17 year old have to pay taxes in this country then why can't they vote for the
representatives of this country. There both civics responsibilities so what makes them so
different. If the government can trial us as adult and believe that we can make our own decision
as mature adults then why cant we vote as adults. What does the government see differently
from a 16/17 year old committing a crime with a mentality of an adult versus a 16/17 year old
voting?

Counter Argument
1. Teens are impulsive, impressionable, and quick to make decisions. Brain isnt fully
developed.
a. There is no single age at which the adolescent brain becomes an adult
brain. Systems responsible for logical reasoning mature by the time people
are 16. If different parts of the brain mature, then as time goes by teens
should be able to have more rights. Being able to vote could be one of
them. To start, teens could be able to vote locally.
b. If a 16/17 year old cant vote because their brains arent fully developed,
then some adults shouldnt be able to vote until they are in their mid
twenties because the part of the brain dedicated to decision making
doesnt mature until you're around age 25.

(http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/28/do-we-need-to-redefine-
adulthood/adulthood-what-the-brain-says-about-maturity)


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