Should Kids Get The Vote?

[ScreamingWeasel]

Should Kids Get The Vote?
By Geraldine Sealey
ABC News

Sept. 17 -- Americans may be getting used to the Terminator on the ballot. But can they handle his teenage fans in the voting booth?

Laura Finstad says yes. She has been a political activist for years. And she's finally won the right to vote in the United States.
Her accomplishment? Turning 18 last Saturday.

Finstad fumes about the law that made her wait so long and is campaigning for the voting rights of younger teenagers.

Supporters of lowering the voting age from 18, the national legal standard since the 26th Amendment was ratified 32 years ago, think the time for their issue has come.
There's movement in several states and municipalities to give younger teens the right to vote.

In Baltimore, Md., 16 and 17-year olds voted in the mayoral primary on Sept. 9.

The Cambridge, Mass., city council recently approved lowering the voting age to 17.

A Maine legislative panel in April approved extending voting rights to 17-year-olds.

Similar legislation is being considered in both Texas and California, and has been debated in Minnesota.

Youth voting rights advocates are also campaigning to lower the voting age in Florida, Hawaii, North Dakota, Alaska, and New York City.

[awwchrist]

im sure this isnt a popular opinion by any means...but i've always thought the voting age should be 21 (unless you serve in the military).

there's a level of maturity, comprehension, and intellect that seems to be lacking at 18...even at 21...it really doesn't develop until 23..

[Homeless]

I agree with Aww, personally I think it should be 25. Most people just arent mature or wise enough before that age to be deciding who should govern them.

The kids in the military should be able to legally drink the minute they put on a uniform, if they want to

[DieHardCubbie]

im sure this isnt a popular opinion by any means...but i've always thought the voting age should be 21 (unless you serve in the military).

there's a level of maturity, comprehension, and intellect that seems to be lacking at 18...even at 21...it really doesn't develop until 23..

I agree...

he kids in the military should be able to legally drink the minute they put on a uniform, if they want to

are you asking for a drunk military....

When you enlist to serve for your country, you should have the right to vote for who your comanders are...but the country should not be able to "serve" them....

back to the original post....16 is too young to vote in national elections...however, 16 voting in local elections might not be that bad of an idea...It will give them a chance to see what the election process is like...similar to a tiered process....vote in more elections with age...16 in local...18 in state and 21 in national...

[cwebb]

Mature... wise...

you need to be 21 to vote and be considered mature and wise, but some kids at 21 already have like three kids of their own! No driving license required for having sex, right?

[ScreamingWeasel]

I remember when both the voting age, and the drinking age, were lowered to 18.
This was during Viet Nam, and the problem was that 18-year olds were being drafted and shipped to the other side of the world to kill or be killed - yet could not vote or legally drink a beer!

Personally. Now. Vote-wise.
I think 21 +millitary of any age is about right, and makes the most sense.

[Madison]

I went with 21. Most kids just don't understand.