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Essay young people are the least likely to vote
Lowering the voting age statistics
Importance of voting among youth
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The United States of America Should
Lower the Legal Voting Age
You live in 1971 and have just turned 18. You have also just been deployed to fight for the United States in the Vietnam War. Is it fair that you can be deployed to fight for your country but still can’t legally vote? Because of this problem, the United States lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18. But, the U.S.A.’s voting age still isn’t low enough. Teens and kids that care about what happens to their country still can’t vote for what they believe in. Several countries, including Argentina and Brazil, have already lowered their voting ages to 16, allowing teenagers to present their opinions about problems in their countries.
In 2017, equal rights is a huge issue in politics.
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Politicians have been working to increase voter turnout for years. Lowering the voting age could be their new solution. Many adults only vote in elections that they find particularly interesting, like the 2016 Presidential Election, which had record voter turnout. If teens were allowed to vote at a younger age, kid’s issues would make their way to the polls. Hopefully, these new issues would interest adults and make them more likely to vote. Teens that were introduced to politics at a younger age would build the habit of voting and would be more likely to continue voting as they got older. Parents would have to drive their kids to the polls, making them more likely to vote …show more content…
But, this isn’t true. Adults can be just as childish as teens or even more immature. If we trust our 16 year olds to drive cars, can’t we trust them to do something as simple as voting? Teens wouldn’t abuse their voting rights. Everyone simply votes for who they think will do the best job as the head of the country. Teenagers that were uninterested in politics would just wouldn’t vote. Adults that aren’t interested in politics do the same thing and just stay home from the
As of the ratification of the 26th amendment in 1971, the voting age in the US is 18. As I turn 18 this coming summer I now have the chance to participate in elections local, state, and national wide. The history of youth voting has changed over time with that more 18-24 year olds are voting as time goes on. The question comes to mind about voting in that why would someone want to vote and if it’s just a waste of time. I believe that if people have the chance to vote, then they should which is why I am going to vote in elections to come in the future.
Considering the delegates that are currently running for office, a voter should have a vast level of understanding regarding the intentions of each and every candidate. Arguing whether to raise or lower the age limit for the right to vote has raised many speculations as to how it would affect the economy. There are pros and cons within both sides of the argument, but any decisions made by the powers that be will have an adverse effect on today’s society if it is placed in the hands of the younger generation. Therefore, raising the voting age to twenty-one is a better way of making sure that voters are more aware and would be more equipped to making a more sound decision rather than lowering
If the voting age is lowered, it is true that a higher voter turnout would be a result. Other countries such as Belgium, Germany, and Austria have a lower voting age and enjoy a higher percentage of voter turnout. Belgium ranks at 93% voter participation, while the U.S. trails behind at just 38% turnout in congressional elections. These facts seem to indicate that a lower voting age has a direct impact on voter participation. However, there is no concrete proof that a lower voting age directly impacts voter turnout. I believe the problem lies deeper than age.
... 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.
The voting age requirement was changed to 18 because it was believed that if you were old enough to be drafted to fight in the Vietnam War at 18, then you should be allowed to vote.
Today in America, less than half of young voters between the ages of 18 and 24 vote (TheBestColleges.org). What most of these new adults fail to realize, is that their government depends on them to vote and elect new leaders to represent their country. Many of them make excuses to avoid voting, when really, they benefit most from voting.
Unbelievably, the United States citizens trust their sixteen-year-old children to drive three thousand pound vehicles. We require our working young to pay taxes. We trust the decision-making abilities of eighteen year olds in public elections, with the right to smoke, and with the choice of marriage without parental consent. Our young adults are encouraged to join the army and fight for their country. We however believe that until the age of twenty-one our young adults can not handle alcohol.
One example would be e-voting. Voting from cell phones, at home, work, or school, could potentially help. People wouldn’t have to waste their time at a polling location and could vote whenever from the electronic device. Politicians could also bring the political issues straight to the teenagers. They could bring a political debate to a gym or classroom by arguing with a candidate or discussing current issues with the teens. They could also discuss issues that impact teenagers which could potentially lead to teenagers voting to let their voices be heard. The current presidential election for 2016 is a great example of how politics, like Donald Trump, are speaking out and causing media to cover the early stages of the election. Teachers, parents, and other important adults in our lives, could use this as a building point to bring teenagers into the election. If they would succeed in bring teenagers into the election and encourage them to vote next year, this would truly help our
Young adults (age 18-26) are much less likely to go to vote than older people are. In addition, most young people’s interest in service has not extended to include political service. Older people are much more likely to vote in elections than younger people are. (Hershey, 2015, p. 168) moreover, older people tend to vote more frequently and consistently than young
Although there are 44 million eligible young voters ages 18-29, in 2012 only 45% of them voted. These young people make up one fifth, or 21%, of the eligible voting population, yet they often do not vote. Voting is a tremendous gift. Young people in many other countries around the world have to fight to gain this right. In America, voting is often taken for granted by all age groups, but the youth take it for granted the most. In this paper, the reason why young people do not vote will be explored and solutions as to how to get them to vote will be proposed.
Did you know that the voting age was not always 18 in Canada? Until 1970 the legal voting age was 21. However this caused a lot of controversy. Citizens aged 18-21 reasoned that since they were old enough to fight and possibly lose their lives in war for their country they should be able to elect who would make decisions and represent them in government. 1970, a revised Canada Elections Act lowered the voting age and the age of candidacy from 21 years to 18. What did Canada’s youth do with this newfound right? As little as possible! On average less than 38.8% of Canadian youth from the age of 18-25 vote. The failure of young adolescents to vote has spawned much uncertainty and worry from government officials making them feel that lowering the
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.
Government officials have considered lowering the voting age to sixteen from its current standard of eighteen. This would not be a wise decision because people under the age of eighteen are referred to as children for a reason. The reason is that they have clearly not completed cognitive development. In humans, a muscle located at the front of the brain, called the frontal lobe, is responsible for the reasoning skills and maturity of one’s self. This muscle is not fully advanced until the age of twenty-one. “In calm situations, teenagers can rationalize almost as well as adults. But stress can hijack what physicians call, "hot cognition" and decision-making. The frontal lobes help put the brakes on a desire for thrills and taking risk -- a building block of adolescence; but, they're also one of the last areas of the brain to develop fully”. (Source A). This statement notifies that there is no shame in the lacking understanding of a teenage brain, but that they should be given the full extent of time to mature before being handed such responsibilities as voting. Research has indicated that throughout its lifetime, the human brain undergoes changes. “You may have noticed a paradox that exists among students today. Although there are exceptions to the rule, this generation of kids is advanced intellectually, but behind emotionally. They are missing many of the marks of maturity they should possess”. (Source B). Teens also normally remain in a more insecure phase, that they eventually grow out of. However, before progressing from this phase, teens are easily swayed by their pee...
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.
Have you ever been persuaded into voting? Well, you should have your own say on where your opinion goes. Voting is a right that every citizen in America over the age of 18 can do. Many people have become aware of the fact that the number of voters had reached its all time low. But as the newest voting season comes closer, we should still have a voice and the freedom to decide what we do. Which is, take a step against making America a compulsory voting country, because it proves unnecessary and there are other alternatives than mandatory voting.