Why do you have to be 18 to vote?

Because at 18 you’re an adult and it’s assumed that if your not an “adult” then you’re too ignorant to make an educated vote. I think it should stay at 18.

but maybe that’s just the adult in me

I think it should be at 21 because that’s is when you are old enough to consume alcohol. And if the government feels you cant make that kind of decision until your 21 then why are you able to choose the person who will be running the country for the next 4 years. I just feel they are too many restrictions at too many ages. 16 you can drive, 18 you can vote and die for our country, then 21 you can drink. Too much going on is what i have to say.

it use to be 21 but was changed to 18 because of the vietnam war, people said that if your old enough to fight and die for your country than you should be old enough to vote.

A lot of major Universities are fighting for the drinking age to be lowered to 18 now, I think because of the going to war issue. I think the voting age is fine, but I know a bunch of 21 year olds who I swore were 18 at the time I met them, only to realize later on that they could buy me booze.

Wow. Inspired by me :)

Just for those who didn’t see my other post, I’ll restate my position here:

I think there should be a test to allow some people to vote early. That way, no one over the age of 18 would be denied their right to vote, but some people would be able to vote at 16 or 17.

I don’t think the voting age should be lowered for everyone, because then I think there would be too many uninformed voters. But I don’t think there should be a test for adults to vote, because that would be undemocratic. But there are a lot of people younger than 18 who care about and follow politics, and who should be able to vote.

ooh, I have an idea, pete. Rather than a test.. maybe it could be like one of those National Honor Society types of organizations? So that these kids, who are involved in the “National blankblank Society” would be able to cast votes in elections…?

Because the 26th amendment to the US constitution says so.

Ah Chuck, you and your “amendments.” When will you learn the Bush administration made those silly things null and void?

I think if you’re old enough to walk, you are old enough to decide your nations future.

/

Because teenagers are dumb.

j/k

because apparently you can only make the right choices when your considered an adult.

No, I do not think the voting age should be lowered. I also do not think there should be a test for those younger. In general, the maturity is not there and the decisionmaking skills are not completely formulated either.

I think they can wait. Eighteen seems just about right to me.

In short the development of the frontal cortex is complete.

If people under 18 are able to pass a test the Goverment chooses to give us then i think we should be allowed to vote, there are pepole who are 18 and less knowledgble in politics and the way our goverment works then i was when i was 13, i REALLY like the test idea, at least for president, its not like the pepole choose the president, the electoral college does, so if the test did happen and the young pepole did completely ruin the election the electoral can do what it was designed to do, undermine the american people.

I think it should be about whether or not you are able to be taxed. No taxation without representation!

Sometimes I tax my niece.
I won’t let her pass without a kiss.
Or will demand a smooch to read the next chapter.

I call those “tolls”, and am happy to charge and pay them!

I’m under 18 and feel mature enough to vote, but don’t want the age lowered. I think 18 works.

I do think the drinking age should be lowered, however. At least to 18. It just makes more sense.

@aisyna You are your own advertisement with your lack of understanding of the electoral college of why the test idea would not help.

The electoral college was made by our founding fathers because they didnt think the people were knoladgable enough to pick the president, they wanted a safety net so that if the people picked sombody completly out there who had NO possible hope for running our country they didnt have to appoint him president. So even if the states says this is who the electorals should go to the electorate DOES NOT legaly have to pick who the people want. I know what the electoral college is. And the test idea would help because it would be over the ggoverment, and if you didnt get your stuff right you wouldnt be able to vote till your 18. The test would not allow stupid people under the age of 18 to vote.

Should spelling be part of the test?

no, spelling has nothing to do with anything about being able to vote.

It does, however, affect the impact of what one writes.

Well then if they have spelling on the test, and you fail that part then you shouldn’t be allowed to write in a candidate

@aisyna: I had to give you lurve for that last one.