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Essay on importance of youth participation in elections
The importance of the voting age
Why it is important for youth to vote
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We need a balance of the age groups in our country, i definetly agree with that. There are also things we could do to make that happen, working as a group plays a major role in that. If we lower the voting age we wont get the out come we are looking for, mainly because 16 year olds are nessairly worried about the major issues. Do we really want a 16 year old helping deciding who is on office. How about we let them be 16. So first and for most lets not be shy, lets take a page from Belgiums playbook, let's require citizens to vote. Our precentages would go up termindensly. Because us as adults have the over all say in what happens. Not enough people are involed. Another way to increase voter turnout would be to allow the people
Compulsory voting can be very helpful, the same method was applied in Peru and it worked out very well. Those results can easily be replicated in America. In document E it states, “Voting is mandatory in Peru,
"Miller light and bud light…either way you end up with a mighty weak beer!" This is how Jim Hightower (a Texan populist speaker) described the choices that the U.S. electorate had in the 2000 elections. This insinuates that there is a clear lack of distinction between the parties. Along with numerous others, this is one of the reasons why the turnout is so low in the U.S. elections. In trying to explain the low figures at the U.S. elections, analysts have called American voters apathetic to indifferent to downright lazy. I disagree that the 50% (in recent elections) of voters that fail to turnout to vote are lazy and that they have just reason not too. I will also show that the problem lies within the system itself in that the institutional arrangements, electoral and governmental, do not create an environment that is conducive to mass participation. I will address these main issues and several others that have an effect on voter participation. In doing so I will compare America to other established democracies.
The United States national elections have been experiencing a steady decline of eligible voters showing up to vote. This steady decline has been ongoing since experiencing a significant increase in voter turnout from 1948 through 1960. Over the years there has been significant, meticulous research done to try to pinpoint the cause of the decline in voter turnout over years. All of this research has led to the production of an enormous number of literatures written on the perceived causes. The vast amount of literature produced has led to a number of competing explanations about this decline. The quest for the answer to the question of, why this decline in voter turnout, is very important for an overwhelming majority of Americans and our democratic system because the people/voters can only truly be represented by our government if all eligible voters go out and vote. For this paper I will examine four theories that attempt to explain the decline. The four theories that I will discuss are voting barriers, campaign contributions, negative campaign advertising, and finally the cultural explanation. However, through thorough exploration and critiques of the strengths and weaknesses of these four theories, we will find that the cultural explanation theory is currently the most persuasive theory in the group. Finally, I will also explore some reasons as to why citizens do vote as well.
All of these proposals with far out ideas can work, they just need a tiny spark of confidence from the government. No matter what though, the bottom line is people have to want to vote and make a contribution to this country. It’s a right that American citizens need to embrace and all of these ideas are just a way to give us a little kick in the behind to get up and do it. It’s the 21st century and the government needs to get with the times and start connecting with the young vote. Elections can be won and lost over this issue, so the bottom line is; we are consumed with so much technology, we just need to integrate a voting aspect into it. Then who knows, maybe young America might not be so selfish after all.
...er to understand why voter turnout is so low. As a society we must take into consideration all of these and find ways to promote higher turnout rates, whether it be through social reform programs to increase citizens socioeconomic status, more education, better political environments at the home and community level, or less restrictions on voting. In order for our society to effectively and efficiently function we must participate in our democratic system at higher percentages than an average participation of roughly 40 percent.
There is a way that is already put in use to increase voter turnout in Australia is to make voting mandatory. People in Australia are forced to vote or they will be fined, or even jailed if they do not vote repeatedly. It is very effective in term of improving voter turnout; however, there is still some argument against it. One of them being people would only vote because they have to, so they are ignorantly voting for the candidates just to be done with it. I completely agree with this idea. The voter turnout can be really high, but it would be meaningless if the people just vote to escape from the punishments. Yale Law School Professor Stephen Carter also suggested that, instead of punishing people do not vote, we should reward people who vote. It is the same with the mandatory voting. I think it will only be effective in increasing the voter turnout, but the results will not. People should vote voluntarily for the best and fair outcome. To have more people voting, I believe we should take a look at why people do not vote. We must assure people that if everybody thinks their vote does not count, then no one would vote. We should be able to change their attitude about their own votes. If people cannot vote because they are busy with work or schools, we should have a national day off on the election day. By doing so, much more people will be able to participate in voting. There should also be
The United States presidential election of 2012 was the 57th presidential election. The election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The Democratic political leader was the incumbent President Barack Obama, and his candidate was vice President Joe Biden. Throughout this election the proportion of eligible voters who cast ballots shows that the rate was lower than in the past two presidential elections. Voter turnout decreased from 62.3 percent of eligible citizens voting in 2008 to an estimated 57.5 in 2012. The above calculation was also below the 60.4 percent in 2004 election, however above the 54.2 percent turnout in the 2000 election. Despite a rise of over eight million voters within the fitted population, turnout dropped from 131 million voters in 2008 to an estimated 126 million voters in 2012. When all ballots were computed, some 93 million eligible voters didn’t vote. There must be some contributing factors to see why there's a decline in voters’ turnout.
... equal system. The lower age could also encourage and interest youth much more in political processes and parties as now they would actually be able to impact the way they are governed and who is governing them. Politics would be much more noticeable in schools and the general knowledge of politics and the political process would drastically increase. The youth would also be more likely to develop earlier the skills and potentials needed in later life politically and even socially. In conclusion when all is said and done I, personally would like to say the voting age lowered to sixteen for many of the reasons above. There will be many people opposing this movement but I think it is time for the youth of Canada to be heard and if they wish they should have the opportunity to vote and express their opinions and choices.
Governments should require compulsory voting because a higher percentage of citizens will educate themselves when they are required to vote. All campaigns will have to focus
Voter turnout has been declining in the United States throughout history through the potential voters’ personal choice not to vote and ineligibility. According to research a large percentage of individuals are not voting because political parties fail to appeal to the voters and this leads to the voting population losing interest in the campaign, while others postpone registering and by the time they realize their delay the election is upon them.
Hello, I am RJ Dearing. I am a sophomore at Washington Virtual Academies and I am writing to you to tell you why you should change the minimum age to vote to be at least closer to sixteen years of age. The younger generation of teens and young adults who also have a few opinions on politics like myself would love to voice our opinions on our own ballets. The only problem is the minimum age to vote right now is eighteen. A whole two years of waiting for our voices to be heard, when all you have to do is change the minimum age and let us have our voice heard on political matters.
Mr Tully said that “we must get our young involved at an early age”. Ed Miliband announced three years ago that Labour was in favour of lowering the Voting age. So are the Liberal Democrats, which included votes for 13 years old in their 2010 manifesto,but the conservative Party has historically been opposed.
In “You’re 16, You’re Beautiful and You’re a Voter,” author Anya Kamenetz states her belief that the voting age should be lowered to sixteen. Kamenetz gives several premises to her argument.
Teenagers should be involved in politics and it will help in later generations. Society and its rules are uncompromising and, in some cases, very hard on the younger generations. All throughout life people have always been told they have an opinion on political views. When one wants to be a part of a party, but is not able to chose according to the so called “rule” in one’s house. Is a choice not a choice, and is it not what one who choses what to be, or is it a lifestyle one is stuck with? Teens are opinionated and have confidence that one is old enough to vote. “Some young people believed the only way to engage them would be to lower the voting age to 16. Views, however, were divided about the merits of such a suggestion,...
Is it not true that the Young Offenders Act was created because youths under the age of 18 cannot think rationally for themselves and need special guidance? Well one could argue that for the same reason, youths shouldn't be given the right to vote. Politics, Federal Bills, and the government can all be classified as jobs for the elders. Perhaps it is best for the elders to decide upon who they are. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to put down young people, obviously not, look at myself, its just that it is safe to say that citizens older then me, even one year older have more knowledge then me and would have better understandings of who to vote for. People may argue that some teens do have more knowledge then some adults, but we're talking majority wise.