Lowering the voting age to 16

[James]

Do you think that the voting age should be lowered? Why?

Formal debate please and NO spamming.

Please see: Only the registered members can see the link.

[Hutch]

Uhm no.

Why would we let people vote when the majority have no idea what they're voting for.

[Smudge]

*Counting Booths*

Well, We have no votes for Lib Dems ... But we do have around 11 Million votes for 'Clegg is a Twat'.

[Equinox]

No it shouldn't because we would have 16 year old kids voting for randomers.

[A Panda]

Yes, i think the age should be dropped to 16, most 16 year olds are mature enough and want to decide who runs their country.

[Zykev2]

Definitely not, I do think you should have to take like an IQ test to be able to vote though, I don't know about you but I don't want kids that can't decide what to wear in the morning to high school voting important things like social security, ect.

[iiNarbz]

Uhm no.

Why would we let people vote when the majority have no idea what they're voting for.

True most 18 year olds vote and vote for a random person just to make someone mad or something.
So why not make it 21? :/

[Zykev2]

True most 18 year olds vote and vote for a random person just to make someone mad or something.
So why not make it 21? :/

No because then I can't vote Obama out of office.

[Texeh]

Hope by the 2012 elections i can vote ( not for obama ;P )
but win/loose situation you would have idiot kids voting for idiot leaders ..

[Equinox]

18 year olds should be aloud to vote, but for the right people, 16 year olds are not even adults yet.

[Toonshorty]

Doesn't effect me since the election will fall when I'm 19 anyway.

I think there are groups of 16 year olds that should be able to vote (like me) but most shouldn't.

Funny, this came up in my English Paper 1 yesterday ;)



18 year olds should be aloud to vote, but for the right people, 16 year olds are not even adults yet.


Kind of defeats the point of democracy a bit doesn't it.

[Relapse]

Uhm no.

Why would we let people vote when the majority have no idea what they're voting for.


As if the people who can vote now do ...haha

[Equinox]

Doesn't effect me since the election will fall when I'm 19 anyway.

I think there are groups of 16 year olds that should be able to vote (like me) but most shouldn't.

Funny, this came up in my English Paper 1 yesterday ;)





Kind of defeats the point of democracy a bit doesn't it.

A bit Toon ;)

[Zykev2]

18 year olds should be aloud to vote, but for the right people, 16 year olds are not even adults yet.

Who are you to say who the "Right people" are...That would defeat the purpose of voting and last time they had "voting" where you could only vote for the "right person" Hitler took over most of Europe. He let them "vote" but guards would stand over watching you and they would hit Hitler as the biggest box.

[Equinox]

I'm nearlly 18 but i will not be voting.

[Zykev2]

I'm actually Kyle to be honest mate. :troll:

Well this is the intelligent debate section, I'm trying to debate with you instead you act like an immature little kid and avoid the topic completely. Leave your ignorance out of this section.

[Hutch]

18 year olds should be aloud to vote, but for the right people, 16 year olds are not even adults yet.

That's the age right now..

[Trey]

I would say no. Simply put, 16 year olds are not mature and are not adults yet. People may argue that age is just a number, but there is a fairly obvious jump in maturity between 16 and 18, and even 18 and 21. I think the future of a civilization should not be mutable by those who aren't really effected by the government directly in a broad sense. As you become more legally independent, government has a more direct role in your life, versus your parent's life. Adulthood in legality begins at 18 so it would make sense that that's the age you being to have a say in government. I see no reason for 16 year olds voting.

[Dean]

Most people don't even care for politics until they mature more, so that's why they made it 18 to vote.

I think it's pretty dumb if you don't care, that means you could care less about our rights. :rolleyes:

[Matty]

No, you don't pay taxes at the ages of 16 so why should they let you vote? You're not legally an adult until you turn 18. I bet you the majority of 16 year old's don't give a shit what happens in the government only if it involves them.

[Equinox]

First black american president too, must mean something, he has gotta be good, the speachers he gives are kul.

[CRAIZYBART]

No, you don't pay taxes at the ages of 16 so why should they let you vote? You're not legally an adult until you turn 18. I bet you the majority of 16 year old's don't give a shit what happens in the government only if it involves them.

ya i agree with you Matty :D

[Slik]

In england the percentage of votes from new voters (18 year olds) is actually pathetically low. The fact of the matter is that politics don't matter to an 18 year old too much, I don't see a significant change coming along for 16 year olds. In terms of their votes, I doubt they'll just vote irresponsibily since if they are that moronic in the first place their obvious option would be just to not vote altogether. As per increasing the age to 21, I find that to be a bad idea since if you look at the number of voters from the age group of 18 and compare it to, lets say 20 you'll find a significant increase.

[Smudge]

In england the percentage of votes from new voters (18 year olds) is actually pathetically low. The fact of the matter is that politics don't matter to an 18 year old too much, I don't see a significant change coming along for 16 year olds. In terms of their votes, I doubt they'll just vote irresponsibily since if they are that moronic in the first place their obvious option would be just to not vote altogether. As per increasing the age to 21, I find that to be a bad idea since if you look at the number of voters from the age group of 18 and compare it to, lets say 20 you'll find a significant increase.

BNP Votes rise 25% - You know it'd happen, Lol.

[Matty]

BNP Votes rise 25% - You know it'd happen, Lol.

That would definitely happen.

[Anthony`]

I disagree with this as most people at 16 are still quite immature and would abuse their right..

[Trey]

That would definitely happen.

"Lil' Wayne elected as the president of the United States!".... I can see it now.

[Smudge]

"Lil' Wayne elected as the president of the United States!".... I can see it now.

Afroman as President, I was gonna' take the troops out of Iraq, but then I got high ... LOL

[Trey]

Afroman as President, I was gonna' take the troops out of Iraq, but then I got high ... LOL

I lol'd out loud.

( I laughed out loud out loud. Yum, redundancy).

[Matty]

You two get on topic.

[Slik]

BNP Votes rise 25% - You know it'd happen, Lol.

Yes it would, and that sparks a good point. Politicians would find it remarkably easy to gain votes of a younger audience in comparasion to a older audience purely because if you tell a child you'll increase their benefits they'll vote for you. If you tell an adult you'll increase their pensions, they'll notice the increase in tax their paying to compensate because the money must come from somewhere. Essientially what they're doing there is taking your money and giving it back to you in the long run, people of an older audience won't fall for it so easily.

[Relapse]

First black american president too, must mean something, he has gotta be good, the speachers he gives are kul.

Sad thing is... he isn't. The reason he won was because of the fact that he is black, and thousands if not millions of blacks who didn't vote before because they didn't care only voted for him because he was black.


EDIT: That may not be the only reason (considering who his opponents were) but it was one.

[mordorkyle]

I think no.

16 year olds mostly get their ideas from parents, adults, rumors, and famous people, movies, or songs. They do not actually do the research and decide what they want they just agree with their surrounding opinions.

[TheSickSign]

Yes, i think the age should be dropped to 16, most 16 year olds are mature enough and want to decide who runs their country.

What about the 16 year olds who aren't mature? I think it should stay at 18. If it changes to 16, there will be more people who aren't mature. It's fine how it is.

[Ziek`]

Yes, i think the age should be dropped to 16, most 16 year olds are mature enough and want to decide who runs their country.

16 year olds are mature? bullshit. i work at a school and i have yet to see a 16 year old mature enough to decide who runs our country. at that age, they are still tucked under their parents' wings, so they will vote for whoever their parents want them to. we'd end up with the same results, just higher numbers.


Kind of defeats the point of democracy a bit doesn't it.

democracy is a country run by the people not children. in the eyes of the law, 16 year olds are still children.


if they lower the voting age to 16, then why not lower the smoking age to 16, the drinking age to 18, and the driving age to 14?

[Zykev2]

16 year olds are mature? bullshit. i work at a school and i have yet to see a 16 year old mature enough to decide who runs our country. at that age, they are still tucked under their parents' wings, so they will vote for whoever their parents want them to. we'd end up with the same results, just higher numbers.



democracy is a country run by the people not children. in the eyes of the law, 16 year olds are still children.


if they lower the voting age to 16, then why not lower the smoking age to 16, the drinking age to 18, and the driving age to 14?

I agree with the drinking age being 18, if you're old enough to fight for your country you're old enough to have a beer.

[mordorkyle]

democracy is a country run by the people not children.


I dont agree with age drop but aren't 16 year olds still people?

[Ziek`]

I agree with the drinking age being 18, if you're old enough to fight for your country you're old enough to have a beer.

i partially disagree. don't lower the drinking age to 18 except for those that actually serve in our military.


I dont agree with age drop but aren't 16 year olds still people?

children = people, but people != children.

[Hutch]

I think no.

16 year olds mostly get their ideas from parents, adults, rumors, and famous people, movies, or songs. They do not actually do the research and decide what they want they just agree with their surrounding opinions.

You cannot speak on all 16 year olds behalf. I'm 16 and I don't get any ideas from parents, adults, famous people, rumors etc. I think for myself and I'd do the researching if I had to.


I agree with the drinking age being 18, if you're old enough to fight for your country you're old enough to have a beer.

It's because your brain isn't full developed till 21. That's what I've heard.

[Ficho]

No, that would only make things wroser -.-
Like post above said, your brain isnt fully developed till 21... actually AROUND 21.

[Fly]

It could be lowered to 17. It's technically when you're an adult. I'm sure most people would be happy with that.

[mordorkyle]

You cannot speak on all 16 year olds behalf. I'm 16 and I don't get any ideas from parents, adults, famous people, rumors etc. I think for myself and I'd do the researching if I had to.

Impossible sorry. All your friends and the things around you influence your ideas. Yes you may agree with their ideas but its because you have made the decision to follow them like your peers, parents, and other reasons. By the way I'm 16 too. Also the way we were raised influences these so called "Opinions" that we have. If your parents where racist the odds are you will be too. And if you end up not being racist it's because something happened that influenced you not to be. IE. Friends, family, famous people, law. :rolleyes:

ALL our opinions and believes are based on what we have heard and seen while we where growing up.

[Jordan589]

I would say no, because at 16 your still in highschool, you are not an adult yet and you have so much more to learn still. When you become 18 you can smoke, live independent, and you are an adult so that should be the age you can vote at. Many 16 year olds aren't mature and are not educated enough to vote.

[Slik]

ALL our opinions and believes are based on what we have heard and seen while we where growing up.

This wouldn't apply to those who make judgements after viewing all the collected information. Of course the collected information influences your judgement since that is what it is about, but in no way does it control the judgement. I don't have any family members who share the same views on things I do, nor many friends that share the same views.

If all our opinions and beliefs are based on what we have heard and seen while we grew up, what about theorists? Explain to me how Albert Einstein's scientific 'opinions' are based on his family and friends.



I would say no, because at 16 your still in highschool, you are not an adult yet and you have so much more to learn still. When you become 18 you can smoke, live independent, and you are an adult so that should be the age you can vote at. Many 16 year olds aren't mature and are not educated enough to vote.

Yet in some parts of the world a 16 year old would be married with a kid and would have to walk 30 miles just to get water for the day. Just because in a certain area 16 year olds are not mature, doesn't mean all 16 years shouldn't get the right to vote. (Just for the sake of debating both sides.)

[Zykev2]

Yet in some parts of the world a 16 year old would be married with a kid and would have to walk 30 miles just to get water for the day. Just because in a certain area 16 year olds are not mature, doesn't mean all 16 years shouldn't get the right to vote. (Just for the sake of debating both sides.)

True, but in most parts of the world specifically 3rd world countries the teen is raised with a lot different morals than what people in the United States/Europe. In this time technology has corrupted youth and the importance of the simplistic essentials in life such as water, now-a-days you can press a button or turn a handle and water is readily available with Computers, Ipods, Cars, ect it has totally corrupted the youth and to put it blatantly turned most into spoiled brats. Education is not cherished by the majority of people therefore the ability to make educated decisions by most teenage individuals is impaired to the point that they will vote for anyone just based on what there friends are voting for, what race, gender and not based on there political views. Like I stated before in general I wouldn't want most teens that I encounter on a daily bases voting for possibly crucial things. It would be great if we could individually pick who can and cannot vote based on intelligence but thats not plausible as it would create a whole slue of legal problems.

[Slik]

True, but in most parts of the world specifically 3rd world countries the teen is raised with a lot different morals than what people in the United States/Europe. In this time technology has corrupted youth and the importance of the simplistic essentials in life such as water, now-a-days you can press a button or turn a handle and water is readily available with Computers, Ipods, Cars, ect it has totally corrupted the youth and to put it blatantly turned most into spoiled brats. Education is not cherished by the majority of people therefore the ability to make educated decisions by most teenage individuals is impaired to the point that they will vote for anyone just based on what there friends are voting for, what race, gender and not based on there political views. Like I stated before in general I wouldn't want most teens that I encounter on a daily bases voting for possibly crucial things. It would be great if we could individually pick who can and cannot vote based on intelligence but thats not plausible as it would create a whole slue of legal problems.

Well said, this is because of the standard of living. However two countries that make up the majority of the human population is China and India. Both have a drastically lower standard of living, which means education is valued and every right is capitalized on therefore it is fair to say that many 16 year olds are capable of making good decisions, it does however depend on where you live. Sure you can say that those people in China and India don't have the education required to make informed decisions but that doesn't mean they don't know what will benefit them from their votes.

[Clayd]

No. Well, at least not in the United States. Kids here have not one clue about what's going on or who's even running. You would get kids voting for random people just to say "Yo i jus gut dun votn!!!". It wouldn't help. And it's not like we are in need of more voters really, I mean I know there is a big % of people not voting, but we have enough. So there is no point in even thinking about letting 16 year olds vote. Just wait until they are 18 and know a little more.

[Bluchaos]

Definitely not, I do think you should have to take like an IQ test to be able to vote though, I don't know about you but I don't want kids that can't decide what to wear in the morning to high school voting important things like social security, ect.

This sounds like a modern day Jim Crow law.

I DO believe that 16 should be able to vote, but they must be issued some sort of license by passing a class that teaches them (Us, I'm 16) how to read legislation, and understand what they are voting for.
Now a days if you have a good history teacher you will know more about what your parents are voting for than they do..
That was the case for me and my dad..


No. Well, at least not in the United States. Kids here have not one clue about what's going on or who's even running. You would get kids voting for random people just to say "Yo i jus gut dun votn!!!". It wouldn't help. And it's not like we are in need of more voters really, I mean I know there is a big % of people not voting, but we have enough. So there is no point in even thinking about letting 16 year olds vote. Just wait until they are 18 and know a little more.

I completely disagree with you Clayd, everyone in my History class knew more about the California props than our parents/adults in our lives..

The ONLY reason 18 year olds are able to vote is because of the "Draft" that was eliminated after Vietnam..
18 is only 2 years after 16, and all my 18 year old friends don't vote or are too stupid to know what they are voting for or how it affects the country..

Democracy is a government that is run "by the people" there is never too many voters.. There is only too little.

[Trey]

This sounds like a modern day Jim Crow law.

I DO believe that 16 should be able to vote, but they must be issued some sort of license by passing a class that teaches them (Us, I'm 16) how to read legislation, and understand what they are voting for.
Now a days if you have a good history teacher you will know more about what your parents are voting for than they do..
That was the case for me and my dad..



I completely disagree with you Clayd, everyone in my History class knew more about the California props than our parents/adults in our lives..

The ONLY reason 18 year olds are able to vote is because of the "Draft" that was eliminated after Vietnam..
18 is only 2 years after 16, and all my 18 year old friends don't vote or are too stupid to know what they are voting for or how it affects the country..

Democracy is a government that is run "by the people" there is never too many voters.. There is only too little.

You just contradicted the point you attempted to make. If 18 year olds are too stupid to know how to vote properly, what makes you think someone 2 years younger would?

[my pker pure]

18 is the best age I think. Most 16 year old's don't even pay attention to anything to do with politics.

[Network]

I have a friend who is 15 and he is waaaaayyyy into politics. I think lowering it would be a good idea, it would get teens to think about politics and the future of their country at a younger age.

[Slik]

I have a friend who is 15 and he is waaaaayyyy into politics. I think lowering it would be a good idea, it would get teens to think about politics and the future of their country at a younger age.

That is one person, the fact of the matter remains that the majority of teens have no interest. Lowering the voting age doesn't attract more people to politics, it is just a liability. Even if you lowered to 16 your friend wouldn't be able to vote, so what was your idea lowering it to 15? 14? lower?