Should the voting age be lowered? Young teens work and pay taxes--but can't vote.Many 16-year-olds drive, hold part-time jobs, and pay taxes. Some 17-year-olds even serve in the armed forces. Yet these young people are denied a basic American right. They cannot vote in state and national elections.The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified rat·i·fy tr.v. rat·i·fied, rat·i·fy·ing, rat·i·fies To approve and give formal sanction to; confirm. See Synonyms at approve. (approved) by Congress in 1971, sets the national minimum voting age at 18. But youth voting-rights advocates (supporters) in Maryland, New York Maryland is a town in Otsego County, New York, United States. The population was 1,920 at the 2000 census. The Town of Maryland is on the county's south border, and was named for the U.S. state of the same name. , Florida, and other states are campaigning to extend voting rights Voting rights The right to vote on matters that are put to a vote of security holders. For example the right to vote for directors. voting rights The type of voting and the amount of control held by the owners of a class of stock. to 16- and 17-year-olds. Supporters argue that since teens pay taxes and live under the nation's laws, they should have the right to choose the government that sets those policies. Additionally, collecting taxes from a group that cannot vote amounts to taxation without representation. Critics say that teens lack the maturity and understanding to cast an educated vote. They cite poor voter turnout among 18- to 24-year olds as evidence that many young people do not take voting seriously. What do you think? Read the following arguments on both sides of the debate, and then cast your vote. (YES) Whether a kid sells jeans at the Gap of flips burgers at a local diner diner, restaurant resembling the railroad dining car that is its source. In the mid-19th cent., the first dining cars that appeared on trains were nothing more than an empty car with a fastened-down table. George M. , state and federal taxes are taken out of his or her paycheck. It is unfair that teen workers are denied government representation. Allowing teens to vote would get kids involved in the political process and strengthen our democracy. "I think the voting age should be lowered," says Michael Cappetta, 13, an eighth-grader in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. "The future of our country depends on the decisions our generation makes, and allowing those decisions to be made earlier in life will result in a better country." (NO) Teens are not ready to participate in a democracy. In recent elections, the turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds has been dismally low. Teens need to spend more time learning about civics civics, branch of learning that treats of the relationship between citizens and their society and state, originally called civil government. With the large immigration into the United States in the latter half of the 19th cent. and understanding the political issues that affect our nation. Besides, most teens are not homeowners, and most do not have full-time jobs. "I think the voting age should be left at 18 years of age," says Rebecca Todak, an eight-grader from Perrysburg, Ohio Perrysburg is a city in Wood County, Ohio, United States, along the Maumee River. The population was 16,945 at the 2000 census. If combined with the adjacent Perrysburg Township, it would have a total population of 30,558 making it the most populous city in Wood County. . "Seventeen-year-olds aren't experience enough and don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. enough about the government. I'm 14, and I doubt I can learn everything I need to know in three years." [check] VOTE NOW! Should the voting age be lowered? Vote online at www.juniorscholastic.com LESSON PLANS OBJECTIVES Students should understand: * Some state legislatures A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: TEACHING STRATEGY Ask students if they would vote in the next year's U.S. presidential election if the law allowed. Encourage students to explain for whom they would vote and why. BACKGROUND An election quirk quirk n. 1. A peculiarity of behavior; an idiosyncrasy: "Every man had his own quirks and twists" Harriet Beecher Stowe. 2. in Baltimore, Maryland "Baltimore" redirects here. For the surrounding county, see Baltimore County, Maryland. For other uses, see Baltimore (disambiguation). Baltimore is an independent city located in the state of Maryland in the United States. , allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in a mayoral primary last month. Maine, California, Massachusetts, and Texas state legislatures are considering lowering the voting age to 17. Overseas, Great Britain Great Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 60,441,000), 94,226 sq mi (244,044 sq km), on the British Isles, off W Europe. The country is often referred to simply as Britain. is debating whether to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. A radical proposal currently under debate in the German Parliament could extend voting rights even to infants. Under the proposal, parents would vote for their children until they reached age 12. THINKING SKILLS NOTING DETAILS: When was the national minimum voting age most recently changed? (Congress set the national minimum voting age at 18 when it ratified the 26th Amendment in 1971.) COMPREHENSION: Why do critics believe the voting age should not be lowered? (Some people argue that teens lack the maturity and understanding to cast an educated vote. Also, critics cite the poor voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds as proof that young people don't take voting seriously.) ACTIVITY CONTACT A REPRESENTATIVE: Instruct students to write persuasive essays on whether the voting age should be lowered. As part of a group project, students can petition the school student body or local community to support their position. Afterward, have students send their essays and petitions to their state or U.S. congressional representative. 
"It is unfair that teen workers are denied government representation" I think the voting age should be increased because teenagers can work when they are at the age of 14 this shouldn't mean they should vote at 14-16. Voting should be a privilege and should be given to people who are wise enough to vote. "Whether a kid sells jeans at the Gap or flips burgers at a local diner their money gets take to federal and state tax." Just because someone can flip a burger doesn’t mean they can decide how a country is run. Maturity and wisdom are required for someone to be able to have an input into their countries future and at the age of 18 teenagers are binge drinking, doing drugs and being influenced heavily by friends this would not be an ideal time for them to vote. With 52.8% of 12th graders using illicit drugs , their views on how to run a country may be affected. "Allowing teens to vote would get kids involved in the political process and strengthen our democracy" 2/3 of teenagers who live at home are influenced heavily by their parents and take their parents views on politics. At a higher age a person would be able to take their own views into account and not be influenced by others. I think the voting age should be increased to allow more of an
Erick Reid Willis (Member): 2/17/2010 6:43 PM
i agree. teen's are influenced heavily by their parents and would not have the experience to make a valid vote as an individual. Instead of making a choice as them self they would just be an extra vote for their parents, giving an unfair advantage to families and political groups with many children.
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not everybody around the age of 18 are binge drinking and everything. i know countless people who are unlike that. I cant stand that stuff myself. but their is a number of people who do stuff like that and i know a way that can still make the voting age be lowered. 1. there can be tests that can be made for people under the age it is now. 2. Anyone 18 and under could end up bringing a note from a doctor explaining if they might have the posibilitiy to be doing anything or not.
Also, I know many more people that will not agree with what their parents idea for elections. Most of them are under the age as myself. I also don't agree with my parents ideas on who to vote for. Also, i think that if the age is lowered to, about 14 or 15, then anyone under 18 that can vote will have to bring a note explaining that they are alowed to be trusted and are a very responsible person. maybe from three people that are 20 or up. So i think that what you said is mostly wrong, well I at least don't agree with your statement. well that's just my opinion, and i don't want to be mean or anything but i would really like to vote nyself. |
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