Looking at these people in the picture makes you wonder if these are teenagers or young adults. If these people are under the age of 18, they can't vote for who they want to run in Washington. Let's change the rules. It is time to cut the voting age limit down to 14 so that they can vote.
Looking at these people in the picture makes you wonder if these are teenagers or young adults. If these people are under the age of 18, they can't vote for who they want to run in Washington. Let's change the rules. It is time to cut the voting age limit down to 14 so that they can vote.
With teenagers under the age of 18, they don't have much say on how they feel about what is going on in Washington. And it's not fair. Yes, cutting the age limit to 14 would make the lines at the polls longer, but it would give those under the age of 18 the right to vote.
We signed the "Lower the voting age limit to 14" petition!
# 19:
11:32 pm PDT, Apr 17,Name not displayed, Illinois
"In Colorado…defendants under the maximum age for juvenile court jurisdiction may nonetheless be charged by direct filing in criminal court if they are over 14 years of age and are charged with one of a legislative list of violent crimes."
This means that people 14 and older can be tried as an adult if they commit a violent crime. So, at 14, they are mature and responsible enough to be considered adult if they commit a violent act, but if they want to contribute to the country by voting, they are “too young” and “lack experience, maturity and responsibility.” This is a double standard just like during the Vietnam War (when 18-year-olds could be drafted but could not vote.)
Teens pay over 9.7 billion dollars a year in sales tax alone. In most states, 14 year olds are allowed to have a job (apparently they are responsible enough for this) and are required to pay income taxes. They pay billions in taxes to state, local, and federal governments yet they have absolutely no say over how much is taken. This is taxation without representation (one of the main reasons for the start of the revolutionary war and the founding of America!) How can we claim to be a free and democratic country when millions of our taxpayers aren’t allowed the right to vote? The minimum wage and benefits also affect 14-year-olds directly, so why are they not allowed a say in these policies?
16-year-olds can get married and have children as long as their parents consent. And yet, they can’t vote. In one state, 13-year-olds-can marry. How can someone be responsible, mature, and knowledgeable enough to enter into a life long commitment, but not vote? How can someone be considered responsible enough to care for a child, and not be able to vote on any issues relating to themselves or their child?
Some say that teens will not (some go as far as saying that they can not) make informed decisions. Yet, many 18-year-olds do not make informed decisions. In fact, many 45-year-olds do not make informed decisions and this does not mean we deny them the right to vote. Voting is a RIGHT, not a privilege.
Is it possibly to vote wrongly? Many republicans would say that voters voted “wrongly” when they elected President Obama. Many democrats would say that those who voted for McCain voted “wrongly.” Every voter has his own reason for voting. So would a 16-year-old vote “wrongly?” Surprisingly many think this is possible. A teen “cannot possibly understand the issues fully.” Why is this? Do they not have eyes, ears, and brains? Can they not see, hear, and reason? They can learn information and arrive at their own conclusions just like an 18-year-old or an 80-year-old can. Those who do not have enough interest in politics to research and make an informed decision most likely will not take the time to vote (this is proven and applies to adults as well as youth.) Those who do care about the issues affecting them should be allowed their right to vote whether or not they are 14, 18, 40, 75, or 100 years of age. This brings up another question. Is a 90-year-old capable of making an informed decision? Isn’t it possible that he/she could be senile? But 90-year-olds are allowed to vote, even though it’s quite possible they may not even remember doing so the next day. Even a 35-year-old can be mentally insane, or incapable or reasoning. Many mental illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. These people are still allowed their right to vote, though they may or may not be “responsible and intelligent enough.” The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 1971((c)) states that: "any person who has not been adjudged an incompetent and who has completed the sixth grade in…any State or territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico where instruction is carried on predominantly in the English language, possesses sufficient literacy, comprehension, and intelligence to vote in any election."
This means anyone with a sixth grade education, who has not been deemed incapable of mental functioning, is literate and intelligent enough to vote in any election and is capable of comprehending the issues. This is a US federal act!
This is has just been a brief summary of some of the reasons teens should be able to vote. For more information see:
http://www.youthrights.org/vote10.php
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/04/08/loc_votingage09.html
http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3140
# 18:
10:15 am PST, Nov 30,Name not displayed, Georgia
kids need a say in the country
# 17:
10:10 am PST, Nov 30,Name not displayed, Georgia
Why wouldnt the goverment let kids vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
# 16:
9:58 am PST, Nov 30,Lainee Obenauf, Georgia
i think all kids should be able to vote because the president is not the head of 18 years and older he is the head of everyone..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! respect that
# 15:
10:13 am PST, Nov 16,Blah Blah, Pennsylvania
# 14:
9:16 am PST, Nov 15,Arrabella Stagdam, Antarctica
# 13:
3:39 pm PST, Nov 10,Norell Snuffy, North Carolina
This is a joke! You kids have no idea what is going on. Go do your homework.
# 12:
5:06 pm PST, Nov 2,Name not displayed, Florida
it roxs that u guys r doing this i hope u get 2 change da rulez
# 11:
3:17 pm PDT, Oct 25,Name not displayed, Washington
i totally support this
# 10:
2:16 am PDT, Sep 26,Name not displayed, Greece
# 9:
12:13 pm PDT, Sep 3,Peg Gordon, Michigan
# 8:
4:50 pm PDT, Sep 2,Name not displayed, Florida
This means a lot to me.
i know all about polotics.
And here about them every day in schoool.
Just being able to vote can help us make a difference.
We want to help.
We NEED to help!
# 7:
4:34 pm PDT, Sep 2,Alex Jones, Florida
I hope this gets put through
# 6:
7:52 pm PDT, Aug 7,Name not displayed, Maine
# 5:
9:46 am PDT, Aug 5,Amber Scott, California
# 4:
11:33 pm PDT, Aug 3,David Dunkleberger, Pennsylvania
# 3:
8:40 pm PDT, Aug 3,Pam Boland, Georgia
# 2:
8:54 am PDT, Aug 3,Name not displayed, New York
With the "individual" in the White House now we might have the young adults elect Mickey Mouse, he couldn't do a worse job!
