Decrease the Voting Age for Teens to Vote in Elections.
“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 is an excerpt from the 26th amendment President Richard Nixon signed into law in 1971. In the article “Should We Take Away the Voting Rights of 18 Year Olds?” Timothy Furnish states why the voting age should be extended to a higher age. He claims that 18 year olds should not have the right to vote because of their ignorance towards local, state, and national issues. I disagree with Furnish because instead of increasing the voting age, we should decrease it in order to give voting rights to 16 and 17 year
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For instance, taking a class on voter education would educate them on becoming mature voters, learning how their votes impact local and state levels, being informed of political issues that could have an effect on them, and the importance of being politically involved in the voting process. All of these are essential to becoming an active voter within the democratic process. In the article “14-year-olds Would Rock the Vote under this Plan,” Ed Fletcher quotes Veronica De La Garza, who is a Youth Coalition executive director. She points out that the proposal, which gives 14-year-olds the right to vote in elections, would not simply solve the youth participation of voting, but also voter education that can be provided to teens can help by educating them to be politically involved in all elections within our country. By providing voter courses for teens, it would help them make mature decisions within the political context before they cast their vote in all levels of upcoming …show more content…
In a census conducted by the United States Census Bureau released on July 20, 2009, it was reported that about 131 million people voted in the 2008 presidential election; this was an increase of 5 million voters from the previous presidential election which was in the 2004. These statistics show there are young adults interested in being part of the democratic process and making a difference with their vote to make a change in
Section 1. of the Amendment XXVI of the Constitution of the United States (US) states that 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. Both houses of the Congress passed the amendment in March 1971.With thirty-eight states adopting it by July 1971; the 26th Amendment was ratified because the prerequisite for three-fourths of states approval had been achieved. President Nixon signed the amendment into law in the same year making the 26th constitutional amendment the quickest to ever be incorporated into the US Constitution. The amendment evoked diverse reactions amongst the public, with some saw it as a judicious
...adults compared to older adults were less likely to respond that voting was extremely important for good citizenship (133). He concludes that it is too late for the generation of young adults that do not feel voting is an important civic responsibility, however, that it is not too late to convince them that politics matter by showing them that they are giving their opportunity to make important decisions that may impact their lives to others who have different ideas. One may agree with Wattenberg’s idea that habits follow people throughout their lives instead of changing as they cycle in life. His personal accounts are an impactful way to illustrate the importance of building a sense of duty at a young age and carrying that responsibility throughout one’s life.
It’s very unsettling to know that there was a six percent decrease in young voters (ages 18-29) in the 2012 election compared to 2008 (Circle Youth data). In 2007 the National Conference of State Legislatures publicly released a report and data set on voter turnout in democratic countries. This is a quote from that report titled Getting out the Vote, “It should be noted that in 1972, 18-year-olds were added to the eligible voting population, thus decreasing the percentages. Nonetheless, voter tu...
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
Political inactivity on the part of young Americans stems from one fundamental source -- a general cynicism of the American political process. This disdain for politics is further perpetuated by a lack of voter education and a needlessly archaic voting procedure that creates barriers to voting where they need not exist. While many of these existing problems can be rectified with relative ease through the implementation of programs such as Internet voting and better voter education, such programs create only a partial solution.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was both ratified and passed in 1971 and allowed people the age of eighteen and up to vote in all levels (Local, State, Federal). Many people argued about the idea of eighteen year-olds being able to vote, and whether that they could be entrusted with it or not. It ended being passed as an Act in 1965, but became a Law in 1971.
The young as well as the older people of Canada seem to be in a deadlock. The question of if the federal government should or should not lower the voting age is a question debated surely around the dinner tables of families in Canada, as well as in the ranks of the government. Some people even suggest that the age needs to be raised. What would make people want the voting age to be lowered to an even lower age than the young adult age of 18? On the other hand how can the youth of Canada who have their own individual views be able to make a difference without being able to vote? Both sides provide for an intriguing look into the facts and resolutions for an appropriate way to either change the voting age or keep it the same. Throughout this paper I will look at and analyze the arguments of the youth who claim to be 'disenfranchised', as well as others who see the lowering of the voting age to be detrimental rather than an improvement to the Government of Canada's political process. In 1854, before Canada became a responsible government the only people allowed to vote were people who had a high value of land which they owned, and had a high income. Women and people with other ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs were also denied the right to vote. This did not mean that these people did not have their views and beliefs on who and what they wanted in their government but rather they were denied the right. These laws have changed since then drastically and Canada has become a democratic country (rule by the people). However, the frustration of not being able to vote and support their ideals and politicians does live on in the hearts and minds of thousands of young Canadians under the age of eighteen. The...
U.S. Census Bureau. Newsroom: Voter Turnout Increases by 5 Million in 2008 Presidential Election. July 20, 2009. http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/voting/cb09-110.html
Though perhaps not as powerful as adults when it comes to the federal government, students are equally important. They are affected just as much by the activities of their superiors as are any other minority in America. Government class can be beneficial in educating minors about how their government relates to them and how they can influence their authority. By speaking out and making themselves heard, minors can be just as effective in their efforts to modify the government to fit their needs. In a democracy, the most important voice is the voice of the people. Age should not be a defining factor in how significant a group or an individual's views are. If America cannot cater to the will of a relatively large percentage of its citizens, how can it call itself a true democracy?
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.
The voting age must be lowered if America is to be a free and democratic nation, and youth are to be granted their human right to take part in the business of their nation by being allowed to vote. Works Cited D. G. The "Elective Election" Education Week on the Web! 10 Feb. 1998. http://www.edweek.org/ew/vol-11/13boxh11.
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
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.
It has become a growing trend in the 1990's that college students do not take advantage of their right to vote and to take part in the democratic system. In fact, only one out of every three individuals in the 18 to 24 age group cast a ballot in the 1996 presidential election. College students ranked as the least represented demographic" (http://www.idsnews.com/ news/2000.07.31/campus/2000.07.31.students.html). Students do not want to vote for many different reasons. They are considered apathetic by society, but this isn't really the case. In actuality, students feel that politicians turn them away. Most importantly, students do not vote because they feel that they can't make a difference. Also, distance from their voting districts has been a problem for many people. Another major issue for students is that they are just too busy and don't make time to follow politics closely. In polling freshman at Manhattanville College, I discovered that all these are true. The effects of this may be catastrophic. Politicians need to start including and interesting the people of my generation in order to keep democracy thriving.
Even though sixteen-year-olds may be safer on the roads from taking a driving class, it does not mean that they have enough real-world experience to make an educated vote. Parents, teachers, friends, and social media will have an impact on their vote, as well as their easily changing ideas. Society has a great influence on the opinions of younger generations; it is unlikely that sixteen-year-olds will have a true individual opinion. An early voting permit would be good idea; however, most Americans would not be able to pass the “early voting permit”