Informational Articals - Voting - Voting Age
The legal voting age is established under Federal law. Voting was introduced in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence. At that time the legal age to be able to vote was set at 21. That age limit was reduced to 18 in the 1970’s after public outcries demanded it be lowered. This was mainly due to the fact that males 18 years of age could be drafted into the Vietnam War to fight but they didn’t have the right to vote on such issues.
In some countries including Germany and Austria there are proposals in place to reduce the age for voting to 16. While a few select countries do allow 16 and 17 year old individuals to vote the majority of countries around the world agree with the 18 years of age limit. Many individuals in the United States agree that lowering the voting age to 16 will get more teenagers involved in politics. It will also encourage them to continue voting for each election as they become adults.
Many schools do their best to encourage teenagers and even younger students to take place in voting even if their votes don’t count legally. It can be an excellent learning activity to discuss the various topics that are to be voted on. The candidates can also be discussed. Mock elections can take place in the classroom with each person voting for their choices. This is a fun way to teach children about the importance of voting so that they will be encouraged to do it once it is legal.
Many individuals see the ability to vote as a rite of passage so they look forward to. However if they haven’t been advised of the voting registration process they may find they aren’t able to vote until the following election when they have completed the proper registration form.
As the debate to lower the voting age to 16 continues many people take the stand that young teenagers have too many other issues to focus on in their life to worry about such important issues. However since the results of today’s elections are going to affect them as they become adults it may not be a bad idea to allow them to have a say in those decisions.
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