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Should the voting age be 16? Should the voting age be 16?
Yes, the age should be lowered Yes, the age should be lowered
No, the voting age is fine as it is No, the voting age is fine as it is
No, the age requirement should be raised No, the age requirement should be raised
More voices should be involved in the process More voices should be involved in the process
16-year-olds are capable of formulating opinions 16-year-olds are capable of formulating opinions
They have adult responsibilities, but can't vote They have adult responsibilities, but can't vote
We should start incorporating politics as early as possible We should start incorporating politics as early as possible
The legal age of an adult is eighteen The legal age of an adult is eighteen
Responsibilities are really starting Responsibilities are really starting
If someone can be drafted, they should be able to vote If someone can be drafted, they should be able to vote
Life experience should be required Life experience should be required
The age category of 18-29 has very low turnout The age category of 18-29 has very low turnout
Young people are easily influenced and manipulated Young people are easily influenced and manipulated
The brain isn't fully developed until 25 The brain isn't fully developed until 25
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Should the voting age be 16?
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Yes, the age should be lowered

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More voices should be involved in the process

We should incorporate as much of the population as possible in decisions involving voters.
Kelsey Piper
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Context

Elections are based upon the people's voices. Sixteen-year-olds need to be incorporated because they understand what's going on, and there is no reason to exclude them when a wider age range could be beneficial to the voting population.

The Argument

In issues involving society as a whole, it just makes sense to involve as many people as possible. If eighteen-year-olds can vote, why not just lower it two more years to include a vast age group that is often left out of the conversation? Student activists all over the world have demonstrated that they understand and know what is going on, and being able to vote in topics that affect them would be beneficial to the world we live in. The stances they take may alter over time, but the earlier they can be involved the more likely they will be to understand the importance of what they are doing and actively participate in the future.

Counter arguments

By that logic, why not just let everyone vote? If the age can be lowered that far we might as well just continue. The same argument can be applied to fourteen-year-olds, thirteen, and so on. It loses its validity.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] The more voices heard, the more accurate elections are. [P2] Students understand what they are voting for. [P3] Students voting will have a great impact on society.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Young voices are not as accurate in knowledge. [Rejecting P2] Young people may just be gaining knowledge from what they see first on the internet. [Rejecting P3] Inaccurate voting may be detrimental rather than beneficial.

References

This page was last edited on Monday, 30 Mar 2020 at 11:25 UTC

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