14+ able to vote

[wesaynothin]

Recently, in the local news (so this may be CA only), I heard that someone is calling for 14+ be able to vote. 14-15 yr old votes would be woth 1/4th a vote, 16-17 yr old votes as 1/2 a vote, and at 18 it is 1 vote. I, being 14 in about four months, think this is a great idea. What do you all think?

[Breton Thief Oriana]

At this age, 15, and I still think there are people who are my age who dont understand. There are even older guys who dont. They just vote for whoever. But, if the votes could be accurate and unbiased, sure.

[Ancalagon]

Ah! Another Californian! (We are a doomed people, D says California is going under the wave in 2012, so you should relocate for a while ;) )

 

Well, my young friend.

 

Hearing that you actually care about this warms my heart and shows that there is hope. However, I feel that you may be a minority, and I doubt that other 14 year olds more than likely don't care.

 

I recall that when I was 14, I could care less about CA Politics and voting. It just wasn't high on my priority list at the time (Girls was the number 1 priority, still is! :P )

 

In any case, not to put you down, but I think it is a waste irregardless of how much your vote is worth. I think that it should stay at 18, because IMMAO that is the 'coming of age' age or basically when you are an adult. I know that maturity differs from person to person, but I feel that there are very few 14 YO's a out there who really truly care about politics at that young of an age.

 

Also, wouldn't that incorporate fractions into voting polls and results, and therefore make it more difficult to count?

[cmac]

No offense, but I also think the voting age (Certainly, as should the drinking age) should stay at 18. By 18, you have gained a more sophisticed maturity (usually) and can form opinions on an intellectual basis, rather than peer pressure to vote for one candidate over another- just because every one else is doing it. By 18, you should be able to see and take note of the plusses or minuses of all of the candidates, and fully realise what effect that vote may have on you and your community if that candidate wins.

 

Sadly, precious few 14-year-olds care about politics, and that unaware vote could potentiually damage poll accuracy quite a bit.

[Breton Thief Oriana]

Here, here! And also the pressure by their families. Ive seen too many people who like one person one way because their dad and mom do, especially with the bushies. But, just an observation.

[Mojlnir]

I must agree with Ancalagon and cmac. The voting age should remain at 18. I think the observation that younger voters who actually take the time to become informed enough to vote well are in the minority is true. I also think that young people should enjoy being a young, there should not be any rush to join the ranks of "adulthood." Perhaps we should lower the driving age and the age at which you must register for the draft to 14 as well?

 

Age, whether you agree or not, offers people more experiences from which to draw conclusions about moral and political positions. If you are a democrat at 14, then chances are good you'll still be a democrat at 18, but a better informed one who is able to weigh issues more thoroughly. The younger teenagers on this forum tend to be well informed and have (apparently) put some thought into where they stand, but sadly I fear they are not numerous enough to beat out the idiots.

[vandorssen]

When I was 14, I probably would have said “I know enough to vote. Show me to the booth”. But as I look back, I realize that I was too young. Sure a 14-year old can be rational, and even insightful, but in the same vain, a trained monkey can do math, but you would never hire him to keep your books (unless, of course, you’re Enron, WorldCom, or the late, great Martha Stewart).

 

That is not to say, of course, that any 14-year old is as smart as a monkey, trained or otherwise, but you get my point. :P

[Malchik]

It cannot be sensible to vote at an age when issues that you are voting for have no meaning. It would be ludicrous IMO to expect sensible voting on subjects that the voters cannot legally do. Also, while we never entirely grow out of being self-centred, the level of altruism does increase with age if for no other reason than you understand the benefits of reciprocity.

 

Mind you wouldn't it be fun if the 14-20 year olds promptly lowered the legal drinking age to 14!

 

I would rather that there was one age at which we were deemed to become adult and that everything, voting, driving, smoking, drinking, sexual activity etc was all permitted at the same time. Big excuse for a party!

 

I find it odd that a country can consider you adult enough to vote and enlist and yet not to drink.

 

Come to Europe guys!

[Pack Rat]

I find it very disturbing to allow +14 to vote. I do not think they understand the real idea behind a political party. In a country like Belgium where racism is very high for the moment the the facist extrem-right party has become 2nd largest. This is to be very disturbing!

 

If the Belgian government would allow +14 to vote, the right party would defenitly become the largest and even win an election!

 

If +18 people don't even see the danger behind these party's, how could a 14 years old kid see it then?

[hundinman]

As a Californian, I think that it would be cool to vote, I am 15 as of February. However, I know not one person (not even myself) who is mature enough to understand all that is going on. I have to tell truth, I would vote for whoever my parents vote for because I don't know who is really the best for the position (whatever it may be).

 

HM