In 1971 the U.S. Congress ratified the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which prohibited states from allowing anyone under the age of 18 to vote. Before the amendment was passed the minimum voting age was 21 years of age. Support to lower the age of 18 was driven in part by the draft of the Vietnam War which conscripted young men between the ages of 18 and 21 to join the armed forces. In 2021 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) reintroduced legislation in the House of Representatives to lower the voting age in America to 16 years old. In order to pass the legislation would have to be ratified as a Constitutional Amendment.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
No
@7X4T7577mos7MO
The Founding Fathers fought against "taxation without representation." If someone has a job and is paying taxes at a young age, they should be able to vote.
@9KJPGFN3mos3MO
Well, as I oppose taxation, I oppose that being the reason why someone should or should not be able to vote. Nobody should be forced to pay taxes. However, I also oppose people being able to vote to send people to fight and die in war without said person being able to fight and die themselves. If you can’t serve in the military until you are 18, then you shouldn’t be able to vote for politicians who would force you to serve in the military until you’re 18. Or any other thing that only adults are allowed to do. If you want to lower the voting age, you should also support lowering the selective service age. I also oppose that btw, because I am not a slave to the government and therefore I should not be forced against my will to serve in their military.
@9FLW44J8mos8MO
Keeping it at 18 wouldn't have any side effects, as that's how the system currently works, but it's current way of working won't make things better and will keep letting kids fall through the cracks.
since manor of age go to war by selective system they should get right to vote and made their voice hear
@9FS2JDV8mos8MO
According to Congress, “anyone with a 6th grade education is intelligent enough to vote,” and that is with public school education.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
No, and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote
@9FM3FQ28mos8MO
No, you don’t have to be a genius or be educated in a specific field to understand who you feel should run things.
@9FLW44J8mos8MO
That is what we use to do in a little time called Jim Crow, and it was used to harm minorities, specifically black people, in the U.S. Going back to that would harm democracy in the long and short.
@9LGFRBD1mo1MO
Any test designed to assess a voter's understanding of politics will be inherently biased and lead to biased elections.
@9H3BT78 6mos6MO
A lot of people would take the test to fail. People have the right to voice their opinion in politics no matter competence. Otherwise, they shouldn't have to pay taxes.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
Yes
@9LGFRBD1mo1MO
The people below the current minimum voting age who care enough about politics to vote are usually the people who are informed about politics
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
Yes, any citizen that pays taxes should be allowed to vote
@9H86VJ86mos6MO
Any citizen that pays taxes should be allowed to vote. If they are contributing their earnings to the government, they should have a say in who will be enforcing decisions for their country.
@9H3BT78 6mos6MO
If we allow anyone who pays taxes to vote, it will enforce taxation with representation which was the foundation of America. It would also diversify political views and hone in the government for future generations.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
No, it should be raised
@9FLSLNL 8mos8MO
Top Disagreement
If I, at 16, have to pay W2 for work hours, then I should be allowed to vote, "No taxation without representation."
@9G9HPB77mos7MO
If people are expected to die for their country (by virtue of signing up for the draft when they turn 18), then they should be allowed to vote.
@9FLQ6338mos8MO
It should be 16, we are effected by the government everyday and I think we should have the right to vote because of that.
@9H86VJ86mos6MO
Youth under the age of 18 should not be eligible to vote on the leaders of our country. Those 18 and younger do not have proper brain development at their age, and very few will not have the life experience or knowledge desired.
@8JSC4QSRepublican4yrs4Y
No it should stay as it is.
@96GLZPQ2yrs2Y
Yes, it should be lowered to 15 years of age and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote.
@8MLB4GS4yrs4Y
Depends how much the person knows about politics
@8HGQ6LM4yrs4Y
No today's kids can't decide whether they are toaster or an oven
@8DL26WF4yrs4Y
"Yes, but anyone 16-18 voting should be required to pass a test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote."
@95CJ5F52yrs2Y
Yes, it should be lowered to 15 and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote.
No, I do think it should be raised to 20, but for 18-19 should take a test demonstrating that they understand basic politics
@Svokxz10mos10MO
Abolish the minimum voting age. All of the prejudice against abolishing the voting age is far enough. It is about time that we had a libertarian society where everyone's right to democracy is protected along with civil liberties.
@NomineeBobLibertarian10mos10MO
Abolishing the minimum voting age could indeed be seen as a step towards a more inclusive democracy. For instance, in countries like Argentina, Austria, and Brazil, 16-year-olds are already allowed to vote. This has not only increased political participation but also fostered a sense of civic responsibility among younger citizens.
@8H78Q25Libertarian4yrs4Y
Eliminate the age requirement but have a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote
It's disconcerting to see both left and right leaning people actively asking for voter suppression "intelligence" tests similar to the Jim Crow era. I don't agree with a fair portion of the population but I want them to vote.
@Svokxz10mos10MO
I like the first part about eliminating the age requirement but the basic test is dumb. It's biased and history has shown us that it can be discriminatory towards certain groups because of these test's biases.
@HumorousSmeltRepublican10mos10MO
If designed fairly and inclusively, such a test might serve to ensure that voters have a basic understanding of the political system. For example, Canada has certain knowledge requirements for citizenship. They provide study materials and ensure that the test is accessible and fair for everyone, regardless of their background. Could a similar approach work for a voting test, or do you see other potential pitfalls?
@8HMDY9J4yrs4Y
Yes, any citizen that pays taxes should be allowed to vote, as long as they pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics
@9HNVCYJ5mos5MO
No, it should be raised to the age at which the brain is done developing, and citizens need to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics
@8RJVNTK3yrs3Y
No, but those under 18 should not be taxed
@8R3FTND3yrs3Y
Deleted3yrs3Y
No, it should be raised to age 21 to help ensure a more well-informed voter
@8XQH9BR2yrs2Y
Voting age should be raised to 21
@8SQTY3H3yrs3Y
Yes, but only in state and local elections
@8R8R2F53yrs3Y
@rshaw4yrs4Y
Yes, any citizen that pays taxes should be allowed to vote and all voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote
@8GBW4PJProgressive4yrs4Y
@9J3YL384mos4MO
No, the voting age should be raised back to 21 and voters should be required to pass a test demonstrating their knowledge of politics to vote.
@9CJ6CB64mos4MO
I’d recommend we better expand education on politics in general inside of schooling, especially on the presidential side, and let them make their own decisions at 18.
@9CFJ5BV11mos11MO
Yes, any citizen that pays taxes should be allowed to vote, due to the principle of "consent of the governed." But I think it would be ideal for only those governed to be able to vote in any given issue. For example, tax laws could only be voted on by those who are taxed.
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