All year long, people of different ages should work to be involved in the democratic process. Although many adults argue that youth under 18 are not yet mature or responsible enough to vote, listed below are five reasons why young people aged 16 and 17 deserve the right to vote. These five reasons are summarized from many organizations' websites supporting the movement to lower the voting age.
Lowering the voting age could increase overall voter turnout. If high schoolers began to vote before they moved for college or careers, voting in every election would quickly become a habit. When two Maryland cities extended voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds, registered voters under the age of 18 had a turnout rate four times higher than that of voters over 18. It has also been proven that when youth vote, their parents are more likely to participate in elections--political participation is contagious, especially amongst a major agent of socialization like the family.
16 and 17-year-olds are competent enough to vote. Although many people argue that youth under the age of 18 are not responsible enough to vote, 16 and 17-year-olds are as, if not more, civically and politically educated than adults. Youth also have cognitive development equal to voting adults. Vote16USA, an advocacy group, states that cold cognition, the logical decision-making process, “matures by 16, and does not improve as one gets older.”
If young voters are kept from voting because they are not properly educated, many adults should not be allowed to vote either. In a 2014 study, only 36% of adults could identify all three branches of government, when for many high schoolers the executive, legislative, and judicial branches are common knowledge, ingrained in their brains since the third grade. When Congress reviewed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which decided that any citizen that had passed sixth grade had the “literacy, comprehension, and intelligence” to vote, they reiterated that it was “difficult to see why citizens who cannot read or write should be prevented from participating in decisions that directly affect their environment.” This perspective contradicts many arguments against lowering the voting age, further illustrating that if someone's life is affected by the choice, then they should be the ones to choose.
Minors are affected by laws even though they are not represented. No taxation without representation! Some argue that because youth are subject to specific labor, contract, and criminal laws, they should not have a say in general laws. However, it is indisputable that youth are still affected by other political issues such as working hour limits, taxes on their income, driving, education, government spending, and the environment.
Lowering the voting age would not be as complicated as many think it would be. The voting age was 21 until 1971, when Congress proposed ratification to the 26th Amendment, which declared, “the right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.” This amendment, which prohibits states and cities from setting a voting age above 18, required approval from 38 states and was passed in under four months, the fastest ratification in US constitutional history. Additionally, many states and countries are already supporting lowering the voting age. Internationally, countries like Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, and the UK allow 16-year-olds to vote in either national, regional, or local elections. And fifteen states in the US allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries to nominate candidates for governor, congress, and even president.
Until the voting age is lowered, minors can still work to be involved in their community’s democratic process by educating themselves and informing others on issues important to themselves. If you want to educate yourself just in time for the November 8 midterm elections, visit www.vote411.org for a complete voter’s guide, which includes candidate positions and explanations of ballot questions in Massachusetts. Check or update your registration and register to vote at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/. If you want to inform others, think about joining NHS’ League of Women Voters Club, which holds registration drives, encourages voting in the community, and teaches seniors how to vote when they turn 18. People that have the power to vote have the democratic responsibility to protect others’ rights, so when you get the opportunity, get out there and vote!
Sources:
https://vote16usa.org/reasons-for-lowing-voting-age-16/
https://fairvote.org/archives/why_should_we_lower_the_voting_age_to_16/
https://www.youthrights.org/issues/voting-age/top-ten-reasons-to-lower-the-voting-age/
https://www.procon.org/headlines/lowering-the-voting-age-top-3-pros-and-cons/