Lower the Voting Age

Apathetic. Vain. Indifferent. Selfish. These are typical words used to describe teenagers today...on TV, in movies, by frustrated parents. But these words don't actually represent this generation at large. Instead, statistical evidence and trendspotting refers to today's teens as outspoken, informed, mature and wired. I'd like to call them something else: voters.

Simply, I believe the United States should lower the voting age to 17.

Today's 17-year-olds are faced with difficult decisions and ever-increasing responsibilities

• They can work (which means pay taxes, contribute to social security, FICA, etc).

• They can be tried in a court of law as adults in 36 states. (In fact, until the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional in 2005, the death penalty was a viable punishment for 16 and 17-year-olds.)

• In almost every state, 17-year-olds can operate heavy machinery and drive cars.

• And, 17-year-olds can enlist in the United States military. In fact, according to the official website for the Department of Defense, over 7,400 17-year-olds enlisted in the military in 2006 alone.

If we are comfortable entrusting these young individuals with defending our country and our honor, then they should be given the right to vote for their boss, the Commander in Chief. If we are comfortable arming them with a lethal weapon as they patrol in the name of freedom, then perhaps they're responsible enough to be armed with the right to vote.

The voting age is 17 in Indonesia, Israel (municipal elections), the Philippines (municipal elections), Seychelles, Sudan, and East Timor. And 16-year-olds can vote in Austria, Brazil, parts of Germany, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Nicaragua, and parts of Switzerland. Many countries around the world are currently looking at measures to lower the voting age, including the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Venezuela. (It is worth noting--albeit in parentheticals--that even Cuba and North Korea allow 17 year olds to vote.)

"Young voter" movements are taking place in cities nationwide, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Bethesda, Maryland. Several cities have considered measures to lower the voting age for local elections, including Berkely, CA; Iowa City, IA; Anchorage, AK; and Springfield, IL to name a few. In New York, Future Voters of America is championing an initiative to allow young people to serve as voting members of municipal boards. In 19 states, 17-year-olds are allowed to vote or caucus in state primaries if they will be 18 before the general election. And a national movement was recently launched by NYU student, Nick Jensen, called YouthInTheBooth.org .

In today's culture, allowing 17-year-olds the right to vote makes sense. Voter registration forms could be easily distributed in high schools nationwide and classes could take field trips to polling stations. Think how effective it would be for students to learn about the Constitution and our electoral process and then the social studies teacher could hand out registration forms, asking students to be more than informed citizens, but to be active citizens. Now that's an empowering education!

There is also statistical evidence that suggests that if people start voting at a young age, then they are more likely to vote later in life. In other words, civic engagement becomes a habit, something second nature, something expected. So, perhaps allowing 17 year olds the right to vote will help increase voter turnout in the long term.

The last time the voting age was lowered was in 1972. The Vietnam War draft was the catalyst for amending the Constitution to give 18-year-olds the right to vote. Lowering the voting age did not provoke a partisan shift in either direction or rioting in the streets. It gave a voice to a small but important slice of our population - an informed and engaged demographic that deserved to have their opinions counted.

Why not expand our democracy to include the voices of more active and engaged citizens?

Comments

[Pucky]

Instead, we should be raising the voting age.

Or make it that only those who serve our nation in some capacity can vote.

(Teacher, doctor, parent, military, to name a few)

[ThePeacemakers]

If a teenager can receive all the punishments of an adult (they're suddenly very mature when it comes to court prosecution) then they should receive the same privileges.

[DragonMama]

"Apathetic. Vain. Indifferent. Selfish. These are typical words used to describe teenagers today..."

Funny, those are actually words I use to describe Boomers more often than teens. I'm 32 and frequently find people younger than I much more interesting to talk to than people older. My age peers are about half and half, some annoyingly all four of the above, some as interesting as younger folks. There are exceptions to every rule, but for every five Boomers who fits the above description I might find one who doesn't, while the inverse has been true of the under 30 crowd of late.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Why lower it to 17, how about 13? AT thirteen, children can work and taxes are taken out. Depending upon the crime, 13-year old can be tried as an adult.

17 year olds are not, currenlty, forced into the Armed forces and their parents have to sign off.

I say, let's raise the age in which our young can fight so that they are completely mature.

[ModernTimes1]

Poll done by respected respected researcher ( D. Ravitch) found that among polled American high school students;

3/4 did not know when Abraham Lincoln was president.
1/3 couldn't place the writing of the Constitution in the proper half-century.
Many couldn't find Great Britain on the map.
1/3/ couldn't identify that phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" came from the Declaration of Independence

Another survey of teenagers ( less scientific) found that:
25% think that Columbus sailed after 1750.
25 % couldn't identify "Adiolf Hitler as Germany’s chancellor in World War II,"

That's why.
Yes, adults as about as ignorant. But at least they can bring some life experience and discernment to the process.

[screwthestereotypes]

I don't buy that study at all.

[ModernTimes1]

Cognitive abilities of of an average teenager are not compatible with political analysis.
Most ( not all) are simply incapable of drawing reasoned conclusions about various political choices.

Now some may say neither are adults. True. But why add more ignorants to the mix.

[screwthestereotypes]

There are misconceptions about teenagers (thanks Gossip Girl) but in reality the majority actually do understand politics and if not, then maybe more classes like partitipation in government in schools. However if we can take tax money from teenagers then they should be able to fight for what it's going to be used towards.

[ModernTimes1]

teenagers can participate in various school elections and mock debates. A good starting point.

[vippy]

First of all get the people to vote. This country votes on the average at 20%. Europe votes 94%.
People just don't care here and they have no right to complain if they are not voting. let us all get out and vote to fire them in congress/senate and put new blood in it which we definitely need.

[LazarusLong]

Lower the drinking age first.

If you're not old and responsible enough to have a beer, you don't need to be selecting our leaders.

(I agree that 17 year olds have enough education and responsibility to participate in our democracy - I just think they should be allowed to participate in adult activities if their going to have a voice in our law making - ie: electing lawmakers).

[ModernTimes1]

Drinking age should 18.
18 y..o are expected to bear the responsibilities of adulthood. and they should be granted its privileges.

[strawberryjulius]

Exactly if you are old enough to go to war and die for your country, you should be old enough to drink a beer.

[historymatters]

Fine with me. Young people are the ones getting stuck with the huge tabs for the Iraq war, Afghanistan, and the absolute mess than 30 years' worth of politicians have made of Social Security and Medicare, not to mention the scandal of the student loan rip-offs. I would love to get them engaged in all of our national conversations as soon as possible. We are headed for really vicious and cruel intergenerational warfare if we keep going along the present course...

[ModernTimes1]

"Young people are the ones getting stuck with the huge tabs"

But you seem to forget that we're stuck with huge tabs for educating you Kindergarten through university.
What, no thanks for that?

[ModernTimes1]

"We are headed for really vicious and cruel intergenerational warfare if we keep going along the present course..."
Another demonstrated reason for excluding 16-17 year olds --lack of emotional maturity.

[teenvote]

Ms. Lublin:

Thanks for your well written piece. I wanted to let you know that one American organization
has been fighting for a lower voting age for more than 10 years.

The National Youth Rights Association (NYRA) is America's largest youth-led youth rights organization.
Founded in 1998, we have almost 10,000 members and chapters across America. NYRA's web site is at http://youthrights.org

In 2004-2005, our NYRA-Berkeley chapter led the fight to lower that town's voting age to 16. The resolution lost by ONE vote.

In 2008, our NYRA-Southeast Florida chapter, composed of high school students (mostly 15-16) produced the FIRST television commercial in support of lowering the voting age to 16. The commercials aired on Washington DC cable last fall. You can watch the commercial at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GsJHz1whoA

NYRA's web site offers a lot of information on lowering the voting age (both pro and con arguments). The voting age page is at http://www.youthrights.org/votingage.php

[BlueZoo]

No way, no how! Good grief!

[hotwire]

17yr old vote? You can't be serious. They would be too busy watching Sesame st. to take the time to vote. Now, I want all of you to tell me how mature you were at 17, come on. Half of the Adults in this country, when asked, don't even know why they voted for someone. They'll say, "he/she looks good, or speaks well, they have no clue what that persons policies might be, and could care less, for that matter. I'll bet if you asked 3/4ths of 17 yr. olds who Joe Biden is they wouldn't know, heck, ask 1/2 the adults and they probably wouldn't know either. As far as driving, the driving age should be raised to 21. a lot of kids at 16, 17, even 18 are killed every day on the highways because of not being mature enough to handle the responsibility. Military at 17, very bad idea, too hard to leave their Momma, I've seen it first hand. A lot of em can't even make it through boot camp, they have to be sent home.

[historymatters]

I was in the military when I was 17.

[historymatters]

So I guess all those 17-20 year olds who've been killed, or wounded, or seen combat in Iraq or Afghanistan the past 7 years don't count? So young and silly, they probably shot themselves in the foot, or drove right into a building, or something equally stupid, right? All those people under 21 who join police academies, get trained to be firefighters and EMTs, I guess you'd turn down the chance to be rescued by any of them because what can they possibly know, they're too young! I guess if you lost your job and didn't have anyplace to get food except the local food bank, you wouldn't go there if a bunch of high school kids had organized the most recent food drive. Would rather starve than take food from a bunch of young know-nothings, right?

Your ignorance and bigotry are pathetic.

[ModernTimes1]

Historymatters
Puzzling over your post I just came to a sudden realization:
you don't know that voting age in United States is 18!
Don't you wish that there was a delete button...

[NorCalNative]

Nancy, I think your idea makes sense. I would support your position if it ever came up on a ballot. I was one of those teenagers who got to vote in 1972 and it remains a significant moment in my life. I've voted in every election since.

[LADawson]

I've long been of the opinion that we should consolidate the voting age, the driving age, and the drinking age. Allowing 17 year olds to sign up for the military to fight for our country, or careen around in public in 3500lb vehicles, but then telling them they're not responsible enough to drink a beer or vote is completely silly. If they're going to be treated as adults for something as serious as being tried in court, they should be treated like adults for everything.

[historymatters]

agreed

[LitDr2B]

I'd go for everything except the driving age. Statistically, there are too many accidents in that male 17-20-ish age group (and increasingly including females, also) already--to add legal drinking on top of that would be disastrous.