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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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No, the age requirement should be raised

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Young people are easily influenced and manipulated

As seen in social media and other forms of online content, young people can too easily be taken advantage of to be entrusted with this right.
Pat Orr
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The Argument

We live in a world full of ads, influencers, and promotions. In such a "razzle dazzle" society, it's easy to see how easily manipulated the younger generation is. Harvard Magazine stated that the impact of technology "leaves teens easily influenced by their environment and more prone to impulsive behavior".[1] Therefore, they are much more likely to vote based on ads, who celebrities picked, and even just who their parents selected.

Counter arguments

Although it may be true that many teens are easily influenced, they are able to see and discover many different aspects of politics through social media and people they know and see everyday. By being involved in politics early, they can learn and grow from mistakes they make in voting early on in order to find their political stance sooner rather than later.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Young minds are easily influenced by technology. [P2] Voting biases come through technology.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Young minds are not easily influenced. [Rejecting P2] Education about the votes also comes through technology.

References

  1. https://harvardmagazine.com/2008/09/the-teen-brain.html
This page was last edited on Monday, 30 Mar 2020 at 11:50 UTC

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