Thoughts on Changing the Voting Age

@beckish (641)
United States
April 25, 2018 8:48pm CST
So I read that some areas - including Washington D.C., are trying to lower the voting age to 16. I just had to shake my head. I can think of many reasons why this is a very bad idea, and not a single one to support it. First of all, 16 year old's are not mature enough to vote. Most of them can't even figure out how to drive a car responsibly - which is why insurance rates are so high for people under 25. Secondly, they don't have enough life experience. Until a person is living on their own, working and paying their own bills, they don't have the necessary knowledge to determine which candidate will be the best one. If a person is not paying taxes, for example, they will in all likelihood not understand why voting for someone who will work to reduce taxes is a good thing. Third, they would be too open to manipulation. Adults could easily try to sway the 16 year to vote a certain way. And if a vote is not independently thought out and cast without coercion from someone else, it is a vote that will not help the country keep moving forward. Finally, there are many places trying to raise the age of gun ownership to 21. So - we think someone is NOT mature enough to own a gun until they are 21, but they can vote? And they can vote on adult issues when they are not an adult? This having different ages for everything needs to stop. Our society needs to pick one age for adulthood and then have everything correspond with that date - smoking, drinking, gun ownership, joining the military and voting. Thoughts?
2 people like this
2 responses
@id_peace (14005)
• Singapore
26 Apr 18
In my country, my boys are old enough to carry weapons in the army at the age of 18 yet they are not old enough to vote. (Legal voting age is 21.) It is a ridiculous logic which they claimed that it make sense cos the boys are not matured and will not make the right choice at the age of 18.
1 person likes this
@beckish (641)
• United States
29 Apr 18
Makes no sense. There should not be different ages for every stage of adulthood. Sounds like there is just no logic.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
26 Apr 18
I think 18 years is not enough even so 16 will be a big 'no' according to me.
1 person likes this
@beckish (641)
• United States
29 Apr 18
I so agree with you!
1 person likes this