On May 14, the city council of Takoma Park, Maryland, lowered the voting age to 16 for city elections. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
On May 14, the city council of Takoma Park, Maryland, lowered the voting age to 16 for city elections. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
How many New Age independent empires in the USA — regarding BASIC election law stuff ???
or – how N-U-T-S are some State regimes ???
They should have first consulted high school teachers and found out about the levels of responsibility and knowledge of 16-year olds – and how easily they can be influenced. At that age they are “users” and not able to be “contributors” to society yet Takoma Park is goint to let them have a say in “deciding”?
Gene, I respectfully disagree. 16 year olds can work at jobs both during the school year and in the summer vacation period, and they pay taxes on their income if it rises above certain levels, so they deserve the vote on the principle “no taxation without representation”.
Also, you shouldn’t make unsupportable generalizations about how responsible, smart, or influenceable you believe they are or aren’t in comparison to adults whom you imply are all rational deciders with vast intelligence who live responsible lives.
Gene is correct. Most 16 year olds are just not mature, educated or wise enough to vote. Of course, from 16 to 18 to 21 to 110 little changes in that regard for most human beings. Voting, no matter how “fair” and “democratic” is not a wise method of decision making. But adding voters below the age of 18 just makes it worse.
At 16 I knew more about the issues, campaigns, and candidates than most of the adults I knew. If it came down to driving or voting at 16, I’d go with voting.
More or less DUMBING DOWN in the ENTIRE nation since the 26th Amdt (1971) — 18 year old right to vote ???