Should the Voting Age be Changed/Lowered?

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

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[[deleted user]]

I personally don't think that the voting age should be lowered to 16. I have an older brother who just turned 17, and he is definitely not informed enough about politics (that I know of) to vote yet. Now, if the voting age was lowered, maybe we would be taught more about politics at a younger age, but as of right now that doesn't happen, so its probably best to stay the way it is in my opinion.

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "I personally don't think that the voting age should be lowered to 16. I have an older brother who just turned 17, and he is definitely not informed enough about politics (that I know of) to vote ye..."

I like how you approached this, great argument.

[Bracha]

As a 16 year old who quite frankly loves politics I want to say yes. However, as a 16 year old with a lot of development and experience to gain outside of my small little high school carefree teenage life I think I must say no. However, I do think it is a good idea for us teenagers to start getting more involved in politics as 16 is only 2 years away from 18 which is the voting age

[˚₊‧⁀➷Chadlotte˚₊‧⁀➷ (MERRY CHRISTMAS)]

I feel like a lot of 16 year olds don't really know that much about politics and having them vote wouldn't be the best idea so no I don't think the age should be lowered.

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

౨ৎ Chadwick ౨ৎ wrote: "I feel like a lot of 16 year olds don't really know that much about politics and having them vote wouldn't be the best idea so no I don't think the age should be lowered."

agreed

[˚₊‧⁀➷Chadlotte˚₊‧⁀➷ (MERRY CHRISTMAS)]

Man it seems like we all agree- there's no debate about this 😂

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "I personally don't think that the voting age should be lowered to 16. I have an older brother who just turned 17, and he is definitely not informed enough about politics (that I know of) to vote ye..."

When he turned 18 in one year, do you think he would be aany extra well informed?

[˚₊‧⁀➷Chadlotte˚₊‧⁀➷ (MERRY CHRISTMAS)]

I stand corrected

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Lol, hi, I'm here to say that some 16 year olds have way more knowledge than 18 year olds, and some people don't want/know how to vote even when they're 50. I think 16 is a pretty reasonable age for people to vote.

I think there should be a test taken to see if you have enough braincells before you are allowed to vote, but the logistics of that is a little too complex, but totally possible.

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

I really like that, Butterfly! I'm 13 and I feel very well-informed and understanding about politics and wished I could have voted this year - not saying that 13 year olds should be able to vote, but that your age doesn't exactly determine how much you know about politics.

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

I like the idea of a test, but I'm not sure how people could do that because there are a LOT of people in America and that would require a lot of resources, but that's a very interesting idea!

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Well, 13 is definitely still an age when you can be interested in politics, and lesrn to be a good citizen, inform yourself of all the issues in our world today. Political educstion is needed, and voting is an incentive to learn more about our political systems and issues.

The fact that politics is so lightly brushed over in schools, is an issue. School should be teaching you how to think, not what to think, but now theyre doing neither!

I'm a politics and economics student btw :)

[Sai :), Assistant Moderator]

I feel like it should stay at 18, not because I don't believe 16-year-olds are smart enough to vote or something: My point is that you should have experience following politics. Candidates reveal the things they care about over the years, with more than just viral commentary, and I think it's important for a voter to know the political background of a person before they vote for them.

[[deleted user]]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "I personally don't think that the voting age should be lowered to 16. I have an older brother who just turned 17, and he is definitely not informed enough about polit..."

I think he will probably start getting involved more in politics, but he still didn't know much about politics when he was 16 or even now, so I don't think it should be lowered.

[[deleted user]]

IDEA!!! What if there was a required politics class in school starting maybe sophomore year? That way older kids could learn about politics and be ready to vote?

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

That's a great idea!

[[deleted user]]

Yay! Now we just gotta figure out a way to pitch it to the government! Easy as pie! Gimmie a week.

[⁴ Bella ⁸¹]

No, I don't think it should, unless politics are taught more in school. Some 16 year olds are very uneducated. Some are, but I don't think it should be lowered.

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to 25 XD

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to 25 XD"

lol, but also that might give an advantage to the political group that receives the most votes from older people.

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "Yay! Now we just gotta figure out a way to pitch it to the government! Easy as pie! Gimmie a week."

Lol! I wish. That's what I was thinking: even if we come up with a great solution, how can we put it to work?

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

CrazyChickenGirl (aka Barnette) wrote: "Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "Yay! Now we just gotta figure out a way to pitch it to the government! Easy as pie! Gimmie a week."

Lol! I wish. That's what I was thinking: even if we come up with ..."

Isn't that just life though? A bunch of problems with solutions that aren't at work yet.

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "CrazyChickenGirl (aka Barnette) wrote: "Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "Yay! Now we just gotta figure out a way to pitch it to the government! Easy as pie! Gimmie a week."

Lol! I wish. That's what ..."

Yeah...

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to 25 XD"

lol, but also that might give an advantage to the political group that receives the most v..."

25 is crazy to label as old haha

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

I can only help pitch ideas to the british gov, sorry guys 😭😂

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to 25 XD"

lol, but also that might give an advantage to the political gro..."

ik but the younger people (like 18 too) are a large part of the democratic voters. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to 25 XD"

lol, but also that might give an advantage to the political group that receives the most v..."

That's a good point!

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to 25 XD"

lol, but also that..."

That's what I thought too. We could have a whole other conversation about why that is

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to 25 XD"

lol, but also that..."

No that is true! Voting for the two parties and its likelihood usually splits at around 44, I think.

But that does mean that lowering the voting age is typically not supported by any major party as they are more likely to vote for alterate parties

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "If we aren't lowering it to 16, we should raise it to..."

fair, but that would mean there are a lot less voters under 44

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Yeah, that is true. But some people think there should be a cap at when you should not be able to vote anymore, like from 85 onwards

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Yeah, that is true. But some people think there should be a cap at when you should not be able to vote anymore, like from 85 onwards"

honestly I agree

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Yeah, that is true. But some people think there should be a cap at when you should not be able to vote anymore, like from 85 onwards"

honestly I agree"

But these people are the ones with the most amount of knowledge who have built up the society we know, and who have given us everything we have, taking away their right to vote would be wrong, no?

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Ella✨(booktrovert) wrote: "MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Yeah, that is true. But some people think there should be a cap at when you should not be able to vote anymore, like from 85 ..."

that's fair, but what about mentally-impaired people?

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

Sure, you shouldn't be able to vote if you fail basic assessments that assess your mental state of wellbeing

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Sure, you shouldn't be able to vote if you fail basic assessments that assess your mental state of wellbeing"

oh, I didn't know that those existed! then I completely agree with you.

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "Sure, you shouldn't be able to vote if you fail basic assessments that assess your mental state of wellbeing"

I didn't know those were a thing either, cool! Is that a thing in all states because I haven't heard of that in my state

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

No, no. It isn't a thing in the USA. In America (Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)) , anyone with a mental disability who understands what it means to vote can vote in federal elections.

[butterfly is back (barely, mostly on insta)]

So there are some restrictions, but not entirely in the USA, no

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

MidnightButterfly ~ 2025 is upon us! wrote: "No, no. It isn't a thing in the USA. In America (Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)) , anyone with a mental disability who understands what it means to vote can vote in federal elections."

Aaaah ok, thank you

[Sai :), Assistant Moderator]

Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "IDEA!!! What if there was a required politics class in school starting maybe sophomore year? That way older kids could learn about politics and be ready to vote?"

That sounds like an awesome idea, but the number of ways politically biased teachers could misuse it...

[Ella✨(booktrovert)]

Sai wrote: "Skybird (Nickname Sky) wrote: "IDEA!!! What if there was a required politics class in school starting maybe sophomore year? That way older kids could learn about politics and be ready to vote?"

Th..."

honestly anyone can abuse politics...

[Lily ୨ৎ]

Honestly it depends on where you’re from and how much you know and/are informed about politics. I remember in 5th grade my town started this program where during every election all the students were learning about politics and how to vote. After the students learnt about each party/person was going to do we would hold a mock election on the day of voting. Then our votes would go to the government to review. My school held another one today for the voting of a new prime minister. It’s always good to know and how it runs. And it’s a student ran election so students can see the works behind it all. Personally I think it should be lowered to 16 but it’s depends

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

Lily ୨ৎ wrote: "Honestly it depends on where you’re from and how much you know and/are informed about politics. I remember in 5th grade my town started this program where during every election all the students wer..."

That sounds awesome actually, wish the schools around me did that

[Nikolai !!]

OMG NO 😭😭😭 There’s too many teens who follow politics like it’s a cult and obviously it wont change within a year but at least they might be able to see the other side

[*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺Freddy༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚]

I dont know about changing the voting age but if you're going to vote you NEED to be educated so I think some sort of test should be implemented to make sure the people voting are informed and keeping track with the news and will properly understand how their vote will impact themselves and others

[[deleted user]]

ray ੈ✩‧₊˚ wrote: "not sure tbh like are 16 year olds even mature enough to vote???"

depends on the 16 year old😂

[[deleted user]]

people who pay taxes should get to vote. If 16 year olds are gonna get to vote, 16 year olds should pay taxes. imo

[Barnette ⋆˙⟡ (my girlfriend's version), Creator, Head Moderator]

ray ੈ✩‧₊˚ wrote: "I knew a 16 year old girl that told me she genuinely wanted to marry trump… I laughed because he’s SUPER old so I assumed she was joking… she was not and now she hates me 🧍"

Omg