The right voting age.

[Socialdemokraterne]

Whatever number you get is completely arbitrary. So I'll say 15 and be done with it.

[AiliailiA]

16 is better than 18.

But even with a voting age of 18, it is not certain that an 18 y-o can vote. In the US, someone who isn't quite 18 at election time has to wait two more years (by which time they're 19 nearly 20). In the UK it's even worse, since Parliament only serves less than 5 years if 2/3 of them vote for early election or there is no PM with the confidence of Parliament. A voter may be 22 nearly 23 before getting the chance to vote.

Considering this effect, the average age of first voting is 19 in every state of the US (20 for Presidential elections), and 20 y 6 m in the UK. This systematic disenfranchisement of 18 year olds is reason enough to reduce the voting age to 16 (and in the UK: 15).

I'd prefer it reduced to 12 or 13, to encourage engagement in politics at that time when children become more intellectually independent of their parents (rebellious). It would be remain optional and I suspect would not be often taken up.

[AiliailiA]

But seriously, 18 seems to work fine. Most of those younger than 18 don't seem to give a damn about politics, and if you can be made to die for your country, you should have a voice in how your country is run.

Except that if the election is a week before your 18th, you don't have a vote for another two years even though you might in the meantime be conscripted.

The only way to ensure that all 18 y-o's can vote is to reduce the optional voting age to 16.

[Raeyh]

But seriously, 18 seems to work fine. Most of those younger than 18 don't seem to give a damn about politics, and if you can be made to die for your country, you should have a voice in how your country is run.

Except that if the election is a week before your 18th, you don't have a vote for another two years even though you might in the meantime be conscripted.

The only way to ensure that all 18 y-o's can vote is to reduce the optional voting age to 16.

It's a symbolic gesture, you can't actually vote against wars.

[Individualist Constructivism]

Except that if the election is a week before your 18th, you don't have a vote for another two years even though you might in the meantime be conscripted.

The only way to ensure that all 18 y-o's can vote is to reduce the optional voting age to 16.

It's a symbolic gesture, you can't actually vote against wars.

And because we can't vote on legislation and the issues means that all voting is but a symbolic gesture?

That defeats representative democracy, which, despite it's flaws, exists for the purpose of representation.

[Raeyh]

It's a symbolic gesture, you can't actually vote against wars.

And because we can't vote on legislation and the issues means that all voting is but a symbolic gesture?

That defeats representative democracy, which, despite it's flaws, exists for the purpose of representation.

They may be representing voters, but I can guarantee you, those 16 year old wannabe voters who might be sent to war aren't being represented at all. The ones who are represented can afford to simply go to a college to dodge the draft.

[Individualist Constructivism]

And because we can't vote on legislation and the issues means that all voting is but a symbolic gesture?

That defeats representative democracy, which, despite it's flaws, exists for the purpose of representation.

They may be representing voters, but I can guarantee you, those 16 year old wannabe voters who might be sent to war aren't being represented at all. The ones who are represented can afford to simply go to a college to dodge the draft.

The principle still remains, regardless of the subjectivity of it's actuality.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

I dont think there should be a voting age at all.

[Winland]

There shouldn't be an age limit, but a minimum of education.

[Silver Luna Enchantment]

Oh yeah because votes really count all that much? 16 year olds know as much about politics as most people in their 20s. As well, why can't criminals vote? Just because they're criminals means they can't have an opinion?

[New Sapienta]

Oh yeah because votes really count all that much? 16 year olds know as much about politics as most people in their 20s. As well, why can't criminals vote? Just because they're criminals means they can't have an opinion?

Considering our entire system is based on votes yes they do.

And no they don't, as a 16 year old I can tell you most of my peers are politically ignorant.

[Charellia]

At 16 a person can drive and have a job and therefore pay taxes. They should have the right to vote. Also students in high school are far more likely to vote at their teachers encouragement and to keep voting.

[Lackland]

21+, most people don't know shit when they're 18, politically.

Then you should raise the smoking age

A lot of states have already raised the legal smoking age to 19, that in combination with high taxation on cigarettes ( $10-15.00 a pack ) in hopes of lowering teenage smoking. That argument right there is moot. As a voter over the age of 21, I can honestly say I see a lot of voter apathy among those younger than 35. It's disheartening how some people can have so little faith in the political system, although it pales in comparison to those aged 16-21 almost all of whom seem to have no faith in politics whatsoever. I believe a step to rectifying that would be to lower the voting age to 16, perhaps it might be incentive for actually get a crash course on how your country works and what you can do to make it work for you. At that age some youngsters are actually beginning to get involved in politics, as evidenced by 18 year old mayors and other youngsters in local politics.

[Silver Luna Enchantment]

Oh yeah because votes really count all that much? 16 year olds know as much about politics as most people in their 20s. As well, why can't criminals vote? Just because they're criminals means they can't have an opinion?

Considering our entire system is based on votes yes they do.

And no they don't, as a 16 year old I can tell you most of my peers are politically ignorant.

Two words. Electoral Colleges. You'll learn about them in Grade 12 Government.

[Raeyh]

I believe a step to rectifying that would be to lower the voting age to 16, perhaps it might be incentive for actually get a crash course on how your country works and what you can do to make it work for you. At that age some youngsters are actually beginning to get involved in politics, as evidenced by 18 year old mayors and other youngsters in local politics.

The more you learn how politics actually works, the less desire you have to participate in it.

[Trollgaard]

18 is good enough

[Dyakovo]

Considering our entire system is based on votes yes they do.

And no they don't, as a 16 year old I can tell you most of my peers are politically ignorant.

Two words. Electoral Colleges. You'll learn about them in Grade 12 Government.

The Electoral Collage is only for selecting the President...

[Seleucas]

21 or higher. 18 is probably too low for most people.

[Paulmania]

I believe you can drive at 15 in the US (I can't remember, I waited a few years before getting a license). If you can involve yourself with the DMV/government at that age, you should have influence over the government.

[R Ev0lution]

0.

[Linux and the X]

And no they don't, as a 16 year old I can tell you most of my peers are politically ignorant.

That's not because you're sixteen.

[Silent Majority]

Oh yeah because votes really count all that much? 16 year olds know as much about politics as most people in their 20s. As well, why can't criminals vote? Just because they're criminals means they can't have an opinion?

Considering our entire system is based on votes yes they do.

And no they don't, as a 16 year old I can tell you most of my peers are politically ignorant.

You could be 43, and that last statement would still probably be true.

[Individualist Constructivism]

There shouldn't be an age limit, but a minimum of education.

I still desire an answer to the question of when voting became a matter of education rather than representation. Should we instate an age wide poll test? Wait, that was striken for a reason.

[Emily Pond Laplante]

16, while many are ignorant about politics and government at that age I think that older ages whether 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, ect are just as ignorant. Also a 16 year old can be subject to most of the legal drawbacks of being an adult minus the selective service(which I am opposed to) and can get a job were they can be subject to income tax and also drive. In regards to a comment that 16 and 17 year olds might take over the scool board, since they are subject to its whims and remember idiotic policies of the lower level schools it might be an improvement and at worst it would be no change at all. If someone can get the legal scewover of being an adult than they should have the ability to vote for who they consider the lesser idiot.

While democracy is an absolutely terrible system subject to the idiotic masses, the so called elites are even worse and any nondemocratic system is a great deal worse than democracy.