Why We Should Lower the Voting Age

Student Essay by Anna Clay

Opinions. At the end of the day we all have them. Whether it is on something as trivial as how many chocolate chips to put in a cookie recipe, or as urgent as the subject of abortion, you probably have heard a fair share of opinions. To many Americans, one of the most important ways to express opinions is through voting. Whether it is voting for the next President of the United States or the local mayor of their city, people flock to represent their opinions at the polls. However only people ages 18 and up can legally vote. Teenagers, between the ages sixteen and seventeen, are often considered basically adults, but nonetheless are not able to vote.

        Recently, I read Kathryn Zaia’s article, “The Case for Lowering the Voting Age.” Miss Zaia raised many points that helped me understand how I feel about the topic of teenage voting. She stated in her article “It is high time to challenge the perception of teenagers as entirely incompetent and irresponsible,” which I strongly agreed with. Although I didn’t agree with her assumption that all teenagers should have the same level of responsibility, her opinions help me formulate my own perspective on the voting age. Since there are roughly 8.3 million people between the ages sixteen and seventeen in America, lowering the voting age, I believe, could be beneficial.

First, teenagers are already used to responsibility. Many teens are trusted to safely drive cars and share the road with other vehicles, tend to children, or work at a job. Teenagers are expected to act maturely and most are capable of behaving responsibly. Teenagers are fully capable of viewing the world around them  through a more adult lens. This in itself is crucial for any voter, young or old, to comprehend. To quote Kathryn Zaia, “ By many standards, the age of sixteen is the beginning of adulthood. It is the age of responsibility, a time when maturity becomes an expectation.”

Second, teenagers are already encouraged to have opinions and communicate them. Most sixteen and seventeen-year-olds are taught how to express their perspectives whether that be through writing, social media, or simple conversation. Most teenagers already have access to some form of social media and therefore are aware of current events.  So why not legalize voting on ideas they already believe in? One may argue that teenagers don’t have fully formed opinions. I understand this concern. However, isn’t it also true that adults don’t possess a full comprehension of every political topic? 

Finally, younger people can give a different perspective entirely. Some personal or emotional concerns or issues older people might not notice could be brought to light by the younger generations.  Teenagers share America with other adult citizens, and with the commotion of opinions similar to a game of tug-of-war, it is crucial to factor in the concerns of both younger and older generations. 

In conclusion, teenagers already have a large  influence in our society. Teenagers between the ages of sixteen and seventeen often already have strong, important opinions that I believe should be expressed through voting. I encourage you to explore the possibility that lowering the voting age for America is important and could be a crucial step forward for our nation.