Juvenile Suffrage (votes for kids)

[AiliailiA]

I propose that children should be allowed to vote.

I acknowledge that young children will probably vote exactly as their parents tell them to. Is that such a bad thing? Parents get to make a lot of other decisions on behalf of their children.

In fact, I would let parents vote on behalf of children up to the age of 5. Essentially, if a parent has legal custody of a child, the parent gets two votes: their own, and the proxy vote of their child. If custody is shared, the two parents each get one half vote on behalf of the child, in addition their own full adult vote.

Then I'd have a transitional period of 6-8 where the parent can cast one half of the child's vote (or one quarter if they are a legally-recognized co-parent) while the child herself/himself gets the other half. Half and quarter votes will not screw up any electoral system ... in fact, they make deadlocks less likely.

Then from the age of of 9, every child would have the right to cast their own vote, in private as adults do.

What say you?

[New Mushroom Kingdom]

Yes, Just yes.

[Ovisterra]

So I'm not the only one who thinks like this.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

Shifts disenfranchisement. Balls.

[Lancaster of Wessex]

Terrible idea.

Kids (the majority of them anyway) do not have the experience or exposure to the complexities of modern societies and political situations to be able to cast a vote efficiently.

[L Ron Cupboard]

If you can be charged with a crime, you should be able to vote as far as I am concerned.

[The Holy Twig]

I propose that children should be allowed to vote.

Because children are good at critical thinking.

I acknowledge that young children will probably vote exactly as their parents tell them to. Is that such a bad thing? Parents get to make a lot of other decisions on behalf of their children.

In fact, I would let parents vote on behalf of children up to the age of 5. Essentially, if a parent has legal custody of a child, the parent gets two votes: their own, and the proxy vote of their child. If custody is shared, the two parents each get one half vote on behalf of the child, in addition their own full adult vote.

So a family with five children will have more of a political say than a family with 1 child or none? Let's also reinstate the law where, in the US, black people's votes are counted for less than one.

Then I'd have a transitional period of 6-8 where the parent can cast one half of the child's vote (or one quarter if they are a legally-recognized co-parent) while the child herself/himself gets the other half. Half and quarter votes will not screw up any electoral system ... in fact, they make deadlocks less likely.

"Vote Sarah Palin in 2016 for unicorns and puppies"

Then from the age of of 9, every child would have the right to cast their own vote, in private as adults do.

What say you?

It sounds like you're either trolling or playing devil's advocate.
Children (and most teenagers) (Scratch that, all teenagers) are incapable of intelligent or independent thought. Ideally, nobody would be able to vote under the age of 21 or without at least a high school education.

[FPCCOS]

In the Sultanate of FPCCOS, children at the age of puberty and above can vote.

[Nordengrund]

I propose that children should be allowed to vote.

I acknowledge that young children will probably vote exactly as their parents tell them to. Is that such a bad thing? Parents get to make a lot of other decisions on behalf of their children.

In fact, I would let parents vote on behalf of children up to the age of 5. Essentially, if a parent has legal custody of a child, the parent gets two votes: their own, and the proxy vote of their child. If custody is shared, the two parents each get one half vote on behalf of the child, in addition their own full adult vote.

Then I'd have a transitional period of 6-8 where the parent can cast one half of the child's vote (or one quarter if they are a legally-recognized co-parent) while the child herself/himself gets the other half. Half and quarter votes will not screw up any electoral system ... in fact, they make deadlocks less likely.

Then from the age of of 9, every child would have the right to cast their own vote, in private as adults do.

What say you?

I agree with it for the most part, but the children should be educated about the different candidates so they do not vote for crummy politicians.

[Big Jim P]

I propose that children should be allowed to vote.

I acknowledge that young children will probably vote exactly as their parents tell them to. Is that such a bad thing? Parents get to make a lot of other decisions on behalf of their children.

In fact, I would let parents vote on behalf of children up to the age of 5. Essentially, if a parent has legal custody of a child, the parent gets two votes: their own, and the proxy vote of their child. If custody is shared, the two parents each get one half vote on behalf of the child, in addition their own full adult vote.

Then I'd have a transitional period of 6-8 where the parent can cast one half of the child's vote (or one quarter if they are a legally-recognized co-parent) while the child herself/himself gets the other half. Half and quarter votes will not screw up any electoral system ... in fact, they make deadlocks less likely.

Then from the age of of 9, every child would have the right to cast their own vote, in private as adults do.

What say you?

All you have done is change the magic age from 18 to 9.

[Xeng He]

Enh. The system seems a little overcomplicated to me.

And if we're just giving parents an extra vote at the start, as you basically do, how does that improve child rights...at all?

I really, really, do not care a whit about voting rights in and of themselves, so...again, I'd go ahead and support some sort of testing being necessary for anyone, adults included, to vote.

[Southern Patriots]

I see where you're coming from, but I disagree with it. Seems like a bad idea.

[Farnhamia]

Terrible idea.

Kids (the majority of them anyway) do not have the experience or exposure to the complexities of modern societies and political situations to be able to cast a vote efficiently.

This.

And do both parents get an extra vote? I believe that two-parent families are still the norm, though I admit that I didn't watch the news last night or this morning.

[Ovisterra]

I propose that children should be allowed to vote.

I acknowledge that young children will probably vote exactly as their parents tell them to. Is that such a bad thing? Parents get to make a lot of other decisions on behalf of their children.

In fact, I would let parents vote on behalf of children up to the age of 5. Essentially, if a parent has legal custody of a child, the parent gets two votes: their own, and the proxy vote of their child. If custody is shared, the two parents each get one half vote on behalf of the child, in addition their own full adult vote.

Then I'd have a transitional period of 6-8 where the parent can cast one half of the child's vote (or one quarter if they are a legally-recognized co-parent) while the child herself/himself gets the other half. Half and quarter votes will not screw up any electoral system ... in fact, they make deadlocks less likely.

Then from the age of of 9, every child would have the right to cast their own vote, in private as adults do.

What say you?

All you have done is change the magic age from 18 to 9.

If the line has to be drawn via age (which is a problem in itself), 18 is too high.

[Torvald]

You can judge whether this is a good or a bad thing for yourselves.
Last year, as part of my Politics A-Level, our set ran a mock election. It was meant to be just sixth form, but we persuaded the teacher to expand it to year 11 as well.

Every single Year 11 Tutor Group Constituency chose the BNP.

[Samuraikoku]

Not a very good idea in my opinion, and much less have the parents be involved in something as important to society as the individuality of vote.

[The Holy Twig]

You can judge whether this is a good or a bad thing for yourselves.
Last year, as part of my Politics A-Level, our set ran a mock election. It was meant to be just sixth form, but we persuaded the teacher to expand it to year 11 as well.

Every single Year 11 Tutor Group Constituency chose the BNP.

I'd think because the BNP's propaganda appeals best to young people. (Of course, I know nothing about British politics being a dumb American myself, so w/e)

[Linux and the X]

Better idea, eliminate any age restrictions on voting. Allow any person who wishes to express a political opinion (and meets any other requirements) to register and vote on their own behalf. Do not allow proxy voting.

[Adenian]

Yeah, yeah! And next we'll have Kids running the United States of America, the world's largest military power! It'll be great!
/Sarcasm

Just, no. I dont even have to say what's wrong with this since it's been outlined above me in every post against it. Sure, it sounds like a good idea, but i know from fact being 16, that if Children were to vote, especially 9 year olds, We'd have a kitten for president.

[Tubbsalot]

Eh. The democratic system should be structured in such a way as to maximise positive outcomes. Would juvenile suffrage increase the tendency toward those outcomes?

It might increase the vote spread across the parties, fostering the development of more than two serious parties, thereby placating those who demand political representation. But then, young voters exhibit more extreme voting tendencies, so you might see e.g. more powerful fascist parties rather than/as well as more powerful libertarian parties.

Kids (the majority of them anyway) do not have the experience or exposure to the complexities of modern societies and political situations to be able to cast a vote efficiently.

Mm, thank god most people have the faintest clue what sort of policies we should be pursuing. Without the sensible democratic decisionmaking of the adult population, we might not have constant agitation for a return to the gold fucking standard. And where would we be then.

[Serrland]

Well, that's one way to solve Europe's birth rate problems. I'm sure the crazy fringe parties in particular will urge all their members to have lots and lots of children - mothers will no longer be mothers but rather walking, talking voter factories.

[Wamitoria]

Kids (the majority of them anyway) do not have the experience or exposure to the complexities of modern societies and political situations to be able to cast a vote efficiently.

Neither do most adults.

[Silent Majority]

(Scratch that, all teenagers) are incapable of intelligent or independent thought

Yes, lest make generalizations about millions of people based solely on their age.

[Xeng He]

Because children are good at critical thinking.

And adults are?

These are a group of people that have members among them who believe Obama was born in Kenya. Seriously.

I
So a family with five children will have more of a political say than a family with 1 child or none? Let's also reinstate the law where, in the US, black people's votes are counted for less than one.

...you are dead on with this, actually.

"Vote Sarah Palin in 2016 for unicorns and puppies"

The parent could counter that with their half, and both sides can use that kind of thing.

Children (and most teenagers) (Scratch that, all teenagers) are incapable of intelligent or independent thought. Ideally, nobody would be able to vote under the age of 21 or without at least a high school education.

And your proof of this intelligent, independently generated idea is...?

[The Holy Twig]

Yeah, yeah! And next we'll have Kids running the United States of America, the world's largest military power! It'll be great!
/Sarcasm

Just, no. I dont even have to say what's wrong with this since it's been outlined above me in every post against it. Sure, it sounds like a good idea, but i know from fact being 16, that if Children were to vote, especially 9 year olds, We'd have a kitten for president.

I would vote a kitten for president.