Should We Lower the Voting Age?

 

Student Essay by Claire Davis

When the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, it was for good reason. The draft age had been lowered a few decades back, and the men who were being drafted to go to war in Vietnam wanted to be able to vote for which leaders ‘would be sending them. In the essay, “The Case for Lowering the Voting Age,” high school freshman, Kathryn Zaia, expresses why she believes the voting age should be changed to 16. She makes the claim that, because young people at that age are eager to and responsible enough to vote, they should be given that right. I disagree with her position because, as devoted voters and loyal citizens, I believe that we must make sure to allow only mature individuals to vote for and elect our country’s leaders and policies.

Most 16-year-olds have not taken government and economics or any financial classes in school yet. Therefore, they have not learned fully how the government works the way it does or whom they would be voting for. Because they have not learned about why the founding fathers set up the guidelines and laws for the country, they don’t appreciate them and thus they would be willing to get rid of these laws very quickly because they have no value or respect for them. Teens’ brains, particularly the part that is responsible for planning, prioritizing, and decision making, do not develop until their mid to late twenties. Teens just need those extra few years to allow their brain sufficient time to develop before they start voting for our nation’s policies and leaders.

Because of how impressionable they are, 16-year-olds are not independent enough to be making such big decisions. Most teens still live with their parents. This is not a bad thing; in fact, it is best for them. The reason they still live with their parents is because they need guidance. They still require help with basic life skills, from learning how to drive to filling out a W-2 form. This is the time where teens can learn from their parents how to be independent adults by having discussions regarding policies and voting. On the contrary, if teenagers vote at age 16, they will be more susceptible to peer pressure and just want to “go with the flow,” and do what everyone else is influencing them to do. 

Teens just are not as responsible as adults. They are known for their bad decision-making skills. While most teens can drive and some pay minimal taxes, that does not mean that they should be entrusted with the large responsibility of voting. Unlike adults, teens would be more concerned with the short term effects of what they are voting on rather than the long term effects. Along with all the other responsibilities that come along with officially being an adult such as going to college, having a full time job, and taking care of a family, 18 really is the perfect age to begin voting for our leaders.

 Voting is a big way people can be involved in their country's decisions. It is a great privilege and an immense responsibility. While they may be more eager to vote than older eligible voters, most teenagers are not responsible enough to be thoughtful in voting for our leaders. We should value this means of involvement in our country and make sure to think through who we want voting for our nation's leaders and rules.