Should kids vote?

[likemike]

I think kids, minors, people under 18 should be able to vote. Do you? If not why?

[Jess]

No.

As mature as some kids under 18 may be, most aren't and voting is a big responsibility (not sure if I worded that right)..and they don't know much at all about politics. It's fine at 18 and above.

[teen.jpg]

You're kidding. The votes would be BEYOND biased ... I mean if anyone even bothered to show up.

[ksdnfkfr]

I don't think I've learned enough about laws and politics in school yet to vote. Plus I don't think many kids my age, including me, pay enough attention to politics to vote.

[Reserved]

No kids don't care and would vote for either the most ridiculous party or the party their parents vote for.

[conniption]

You can't be serious. Most adults barely understand, or care enough to know for that matter, what's going on in their own government, I doubt kids would be adequately informed and up to date with politics. Voting is a big responsibility that should be left up to the adults.

[Cygnus]

No no no no no

If you're under 18 you are still experimenting with politics and learning on how the world works, you are not responsible enough to vote.

[britishboy]

No way

[Stronk Serb]

No. It will be biased and can turn into political indoctrination.

[Body odah Man]

Yes. Then kids would finally have some control over how things go. And kids haven't yet been corrupted by environment like adults have so they'd be great voters :)
With kids in government there would be some great laws passed like 'no more being forced to bathe' or 'optional education (ok that one would be bad), 'later bed times', more freedom etc. etc. They might even fix the current laws.

I support

[sqishy]

I don't think it would be a good idea. Many kids are influenced by their parent's views and opinions and need time to judge them and make their own.

[Taryn98]

No, there are a lot of adults that shouldn't even vote. Kids, for the most part, don't understand the issues and could easily be influenced by others and not make an informed choice on their own.
It's bad enough that most adults don't know what's going on in the world.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

No, the vote would become even less educated.

[McAK101]

Absolutely not.

[Walter Powers]

No. If kids could vote Miley Cyrus may very well be President.

[Luminous]

No. A lot of kids would just vote for who their parents vote for (My parents smartly do not tell me who they vote for or what political party they support or whatever [excuse my words, I know little about politics] so I can form my own opinions on that, but religion's a whole other story). Most kids like me don't care or pay enough attention to politics to make a good choice. I think 18 is a good age.

[conniption]

No. If kids could vote Miley Cyrus may very well be President.

I can totally see that. Land of the free and home of the twerkelicious.

[Body odah Man]

Kids are under represented though. If they were allowed to vote at like say 11 years of age things would improve alot and there would be more freedom and equality.

[britishboy]

Kids are under represented though. If they were allowed to vote at like say 11 years of age things would improve alot and there would be more freedom and equality.

you are joking right?

[Body odah Man]

you are joking right?

Course not. I'm serious. I don't joke on serious threads my friend. Just ebcause my opinion does not adhere to the popular view doesn't mean I'm joking.

[britishboy]

Course not. I'm serious. I don't joke on serious threads my friend. Just ebcause my opinion does not adhere to the popular view doesn't mean I'm joking.

my apologises, I was genuinely unsure, so why do you think 11 year olds need the vote? they can't understand any issues, many I know at my age don't,, you know the type, living off daddy by their pool 24 7, no care for no one

I believe many are age are responsible enough to vote but not most, certainly not 11 year olds

[Body odah Man]

my apologises, I was genuinely unsure, so why do you think 11 year olds need the vote? they can't understand any issues, many I know at my age don't,, you know the type, living off daddy by their pool 24 7, no care for no one

I believe many are age are responsible enough to vote but not most, certainly not 11 year olds

There are 11 year olds and 11 year olds. some are responsible enough. Though 11 is really the oldest age I can think of that qualifies as being a kid and that contains some amount of worldly knowledge. And there are some kids that know what's going on-the poor kids.

[britishboy]

There are 11 year olds and 11 year olds. some are responsible enough. Though 11 is really the oldest age I can think of that qualifies as being a kid and that contains some amount of worldly knowledge. And there are some kids that know what's going on-the poor kids.

true, kids don't vote on their issues, should we paint everything pink and only eat chocolate?

they have no grip on politics

if they have an issue, there a child protection agencies that are always looking out for their needs and raise it with their parents who, if it's a real problem will raise it with the local mp

[dsi411]

no. just no

[Brazilianboy]

In Brazil, people can vote after 16, but it is optional until the 18. And I think this age is the correct to start.

[Zenos]

I think kids, minors, people under 18 should be able to vote. Do you? If not why?

LOL! that's something that takes maturity. and comeone the majority of us teens are super immature,think we know it all and that we are more informed about whats going on then adults.Plus we tend to go on feelings and which candidate is cool and what political party it's the cutrrent trend in America to bash on,not what their political platform is!

No we don't need to be able to vote yet!

[kylem1229]

No, because they don't know the realworld enough. They dont know all the backrounds of the people running for president, they don't know enough about politics. And they dont have enough experience with economy, such as driving, owning a house, working, etc.

[Body odah Man]

No, because they don't know the realworld enough. They dont know all the backrounds of the people running for president, they don't know enough about politics. And they dont have enough experience with economy, such as driving, owning a house, working, etc.

Then form a kid's court for kids to only vote on issues that are relevant to kids and only kids not presidential elections, taxes, laws etc. etc.
Sounds like a fair compromise. Unil that happens kids will be under represented in the world.

[Sogeking]

Do you really want kids to be indoctrinated? Propaganda would permeate schools (assuming of course they aren't already indoctrinated at home). It's not like voting changes much anyways.

[Body odah Man]

Do you really want kids to be indoctrinated? Propaganda would permeate schools (assuming of course they aren't already indoctrinated at home). It's not like voting changes much anyways.

Yes and voting does change alot. How do you think laws are made? They are voted on. President is voted on. Democracy runs on voting

[Forsaken]

Hell no

[Sogeking]

Yes
Schools are for learning, not to have someone else's political beliefs shoved down your throat.
and voting does change alot.
When it comes to social issues, sure I guess you can say that. But what I really mean is the deteriorating economy of this country, no matter which party is in power, the debt keeps rising, deficit spending keeps increasing, wars continue being fought, our liberties constantly being attacked, more surveillance. And on and on, no matter who's in power. You call that change?
How do you think laws are made? They are voted on
Not by the will of the people I'll tell you that.
President is voted on.Our president doesn't represent me, not even close.
Democracy runs on voting
Democracy runs on the belief that you as a majority can impose your views on the minority.

[Korashk]

Voting rights should be based on passing some sort of political ignorance test, not on age.

[Body odah Man]

@^
That would actually not be such a bad idea.

[Stronger]

Absolutely not.

[CharlieHorse]

no. it would be complicated.

[Body odah Man]

Absolutely not.

There can be no representation for all nor equality under the law until children can vote. Until that time the Constitution will be a major lie. Therefore I say yes as long as they're not TOO young (9 to 11)

[HUSTLEMAN]

No. If kids could vote Miley Cyrus may very well be President.

No No No No. That would be horrible. Anyway to the OP I honestly think that people under 18 should be able to vote, besides a lot of kinds my age don't really focus on politics so what's the point. It would be a waste of time.

[Walter Powers]

There can be no representation for all nor equality under the law until children can vote. Until that time the Constitution will be a major lie. Therefore I say yes as long as they're not TOO young (9 to 11)

Dude: Do you honestly think a twelve year old can make an informed decison on who to vote for? No, of course not, there parents would just be voting for them.

Like I said, if kids could vote we'd be looking at a President Cyrus and Vice President Jay-Z. I feel much better with them throughing money at Democrat's campaigns then holding the most important job in the world.

Also, twelve year olds don't have the stake in the issues adults do.

[britishboy]

Dude: Do you honestly think a twelve year old can make an informed decison on who to vote for? No, of course not, there parents would just be voting for them.

Like I said, if kids could vote we'd be looking at a President Cyrus and Vice President Jay-Z. I feel much better with them throughing money at Democrat's campaigns then holding the most important job in the world.

Also, twelve year olds don't have the stake in the issues adults do.

completely agree, also to appeal to the younger generation there would be no homework and all vegetables would be replaced with chocolate:)

[Vlerchan]

There can be no representation for all nor equality under the law until children can vote. Until that time the Constitution will be a major lie. Therefore I say yes as long as they're not TOO young (9 to 11)

Firstly, it's up to the parents to represent our interests. Why? Because they are not trusted - and, quite rightly so - by the state to make an informed decision. We're not allowed to vote on major issues on the same reasoning they are not allowed to legally purchase alcohol or cigarettes, or legally engage in sexual acts, because we're deemed to be not fully mature enough to make such potentially life-altering decisions. I assume you're not for giving alcohol to twelve year olds, apply the same logic behind that decision to disallowing the vote to twelve year olds, too. Your arguments for equality also fall short when you realise that children are unequal to adults in a lot more respects that voting.

Secondly, is the point of political indoctrination which will be possible in the home, school and media. For a majority of individuals under the age of eighteen they're still under the major influences of their parents, influences that could potentially be exploited in order to alter their decisions. The same is true for the school, teachers could potentially use their position to indoctrinate susceptible students into their way of seeing things. My economics teacher holds some pretty batshit-crazy views, he's stated the a number of times, and, really, I'm glad he's stating them to a number of seventeen and eighteen year olds who understand they're not opinions that should be taken seriously. Lastly, and most importantly, I feel, is in the media and corporate advertising. Children and teenagers are already a largely targeted demograph for consumer goods, now imagine using that same power to fuel them with misinformation (which does already happen to some extent - yo, Fox News - though that's mostly adults) and alter their viewpoints and voting patterns. It's not some big secret that teenagers and children tend to be particularly gullible.

Next, leading neurologists have already highlighted the brain's frontal lobe as an area key to making rational decisions. This area does not develop fully until you are eighteen. But lets pretend that children (and teenagers) do have the power for fully rational thought, do you really believe that they're going to bother getting informed about the issue; read up on the current fiscal and monetary policies being employed by their respective governments, weigh up all the choices, and then vote? If you answered 'no' then you're probably right. That's not to say that adults always do that either - they don't, really - but it's accepted that a much larger proportion of the adults turning out would have.

There's youth groups in democratic countries that try to form a collective voice, and I believe that's better. Current teenagers are the voters of tomorrow. Big political parties aren't simply going to ignore those voices and risk losing out on future votes; we're heard, and people do (sometimes) act, based on what we say. It happens outside of the democratic process, certainly, but that doesn't make us as grossly underrepresented as you appear to be making out.

[TheBigUnit]

nope nope nope never

if anything this vvvvvv
Voting rights should be based on passing some sort of political ignorance test, not on age.


Then form a kid's court for kids to only vote on issues that are relevant to kids and only kids not presidential elections, taxes, laws etc. etc.
Sounds like a fair compromise. Unil that happens kids will be under represented in the world.

youre kidding right?

[Syvelocin]

At the most I would decrease it to 16, at the least I would increase it to 25 when your brain finishes developing. What I don't understand is why the tobacco and voting age is 18 but the alcohol age is 21 in the US.

Plus, even adults choose their political parties based on how they were raised. The majority don't decide to challenge their upbringing over political issues and religion as many are never exposed to alternate ways of thinking. The parents are dems, the children are dems. At least with an older age, there may be a few more voters thinking for themselves. Still unlikely.

[Camazotz]

No, there are a lot of adults that shouldn't even vote. Kids, for the most part, don't understand the issues and could easily be influenced by others and not make an informed choice on their own.
It's bad enough that most adults don't know what's going on in the world.

^ This. Definitely this.

I agree, most adults shouldn't be able to vote, I would say there's only a handful of kids under 15 that should be able to vote, and a little bit more between the ages of 16 to 18.

[Derryck]

I don't think we as kids are smart enough to choose the right people. I mean lets face it: WE. ARE. STUPID. PEOPLE.

[Soulless]

Should be lowered to 16 and left at that.

You can join the army but not vote?
Even if you can't be deployed, it's a principle of them serving the country, and the country not serving them.

[tovaris]

Afcors not!
A two year old is incapable of making country formind decisions...

[NeuroTiger]

I'm against this opinion.
Teenagers do not possess the required maturity to make a decision to vote.
It's not about electing their class captain but about the leader of the country.
It is what will determine their lifestyle; their future in short.
So, it's better to leave that in the 18+ section.
Everything has a stage in life and voting for the election of the president or whatsoever will be best during their adult life.
Wait for your turn friends and don't forget, vote for the one doing the most justice for the country and for the world!!! :) :) :)

[Miri]

It's bad enough that many adults don't even understand what's going on in politics, and I feel that if kids were allowed to vote their choices would be easily influenced by those around them, or they would vote the same way as their parents, and they wouldn't take it seriously or take the time to make an informed decision on their own.

[Harry Smith]

Lower it to 16.

I can pay tax for my MP, I can sleep with my MP, I can marry my MP but I can't vote for my MP.

It doesn't matter if my classmates don't give a shit about politics- many adults don't care about politics but that doesn't deny them the right to vote. The government keep changing key education issues in the country and our passing laws which effect me- I want to be able to hold public officials to account. I take a politics A level, I belong to a party why shouldn't I vote?

[Body odah Man]

nope nope nope never

if anything this vvvvvv





youre kidding right?

No I am not

[HahaWaitWhat]

Lmfao. No. Think of all the kids who use words like "swag" and "yolo". Also the kids who are about as mature as a 3 year old and are about as smart as them, because they think school is unnecessary. You really want kids like that voting?

[snapple97]

No, many people under 18 may not even be fully capable of putting thought into who they will vote for, and why.

[Body odah Man]

Lmfao. No. Think of all the kids who use words like "swag" and "yolo". Also the kids who are about as mature as a 3 year old and are about as smart as them, because they think school is unnecessary. You really want kids like that voting?

Alright those should not vote but that doesn't mean no kids should be able to. make it so they have to pass a intelligence or knowledge test or something.

[satarra3180]

No. A lot of kids would just vote for who their parents vote for (My parents smartly do not tell me who they vote for or what political party they support or whatever [excuse my words, I know little about politics] so I can form my own opinions on that, but religion's a whole other story). Most kids like me don't care or pay enough attention to politics to make a good choice. I think 18 is a good age.

I completely agree!

[chloe_louise]

I'm 19 and even at this age I still feel too immature to vote. Plus I don't think kids would fully understand what it is that they are voting for, they would go on their parents ideas/views not their own.

[HahaWaitWhat]

Alright those should not vote but that doesn't mean no kids should be able to. make it so they have to pass a intelligence or knowledge test or something.

An intelligence test would be a good idea, but it would take too much time and money, which I doubt the government or anyone else is willing to shell out. Also, that could cause trouble. People would complain and say that the government is basically calling them stupid and thus not allowing them to vote or have a say in what goes on in the country.

[irogers707]

They aren't old enough to fight a war, file taxes, or stay out past their bed time they shouldn't be able to vote. They are their parents responsibility. their parents vote to do what they think is best for their children.

[MrBlueSky]

I feel minors are too easily influenced by their parents' views, and there are too many who would not take the voting seriously

[Jehy]

No way should they be able to vote. Even putting parental influences and Lack of education in such things aside, many children and Teens don't have the mental capacity to vote for valid reasons just because of brain development. In addition Kids aren't going to know what its like to deal with taxes, health care, or lots of other issues that would need to be experienced first hand before you could make an accurate decision on how they should be.

Kids will get the chance to vote and express their opinions, just wait until their brains are there and they have life experience under their belt.

[Greg1994]

Hell no.. I don't even think half the people 18-22 are even mature enough to vote. If anything it should be raised back up.

[Harry Smith]

Hell no.. I don't even think half the people 18-22 are even mature enough to vote. If anything it should be raised back up.

It's not a question of maturity, how the heck do you even defy that? One of my best mates takes LSD, drinks, messes around in class, does fuck all at school- all the hallmarks of immaturity yet he's one of the most political people I know. The last thing we would want is to raise it- it needs to be down at 16

[Greg1994]

K, well It's just my opinion... Just like you're entitled to yours thinking that it should be 16. I just really don't find value in reducing the age to 16.

[Bellissimo]

Surely not, not even decrease to 16. Most of them are way to immature to vote and to have a good opinion on politics.

[EvanGr]

I believe that schools should try to find this out, whether 16 or 17-year-old teenagers are politicaly mature enough to vote. this could may be achieved either through some discussions in class about a hot debated issue or something that has to do with politics or through some kind of exams. as for the kids, of course not.

[tovaris]

It's not a question of maturity, how the heck do you even defy that? One of my best mates takes LSD, drinks, messes around in class, does fuck all at school- all the hallmarks of immaturity yet he's one of the most political people I know. The last thing we would want is to raise it- it needs to be down at 16

16 is to rely of an age to give people the vote,unles you are a dictator preparing for war...
Emagine all the invalide voting papers, the stupide votes, all the drunk teens driving cars,...

[Amazerful]

I think they shouldn't because their votes would be easily influenced

[Body odah Man]

I believe that schools should try to find this out, whether 16 or 17-year-old teenagers are politicaly mature enough to vote. this could may be achieved either through some discussions in class about a hot debated issue or something that has to do with politics or through some kind of exams. as for the kids, of course not.

I agree but I believe that some 11/12 year olds are mature enough to vote.

[Rascaldog24]

Hell if you give the candy to vote for you you could win the electio

[Pompeii]

If you approach this from a neurological perspective, during the teen years; the brain is extremely sensitive to oxytocin and dopamine. With these hormones,the brain becomes highly influenced by social interactions. Furthermore, if they were given the right to vote, the results will be extremely biased because they can be easily influenced and in most cases teens are uninterested and do not understand political issues.

[SaturN7]

No way.

I was a pretty mature kid myself but let's be real, the standard child between 12 and 16 has no idea what politics is all about, what is good for the economy, and how to dissect all the shenanigans that politicians throw around.

[Body odah Man]

@^
We all have to start somewhere. Those deficits can only be fixed by experience and practice which stems from trial and error.

[Pompeii]

@^
We all have to start somewhere. Those deficits can only be fixed by experience and practice which stems from trial and error.

Just to throw out an idea, in our last general election; our education board allowed every child registered to have a "mock vote". It was the same procedure as an actual voting, however our results were not included in the final decision but they made it mandatory for us to learn the process and the individual parties in our area.

^ In my opinion, this should be done by every education board that's able to afford it.

[ComfortableInChaos]

Well, no. People today, adults ages 18+ vote, but if you notice, like I did with the past presidential election, we had certain people who were choosing for us, not counting the people who actually votes. It doesn't matter what you want in this country, and I'm speaking about America, because honestly, even if you don't believe in something, or you don't want some certain thing, it doesn't matter. My mom said she's not voting anymore because of the fact that people in the Senate were voting or they weren't letting the people of the country, meaning the United States citizens, pick their own leader, like they say we would. It doesn't matter who we want.

On smaller things like town office elections, I think that minors should vote, people 13 and over. If they're old enough to understand, then they should be able to vote. Kids aren't kids anymore, we understand a lot more than most adults think we do. My mom doesn't know how to use the damn blender. I have to make it work for her... lol But anyway, the point is, this generation is a lot more advanced with knowing what's up haha

[The Trendy Wolf]

I think kids, minors, people under 18 should be able to vote. Do you? If not why?

There are kids who at ages younger than 18 are incredibly immature and know nothing of politics, nor do they wish to have anything to do with it. Some kids simply don't appreciate the right to vote, but many kids are intelligent and informed enough to possibly have the ability to vote. Myself, I believe, would be able to vote for a candidate based on what the person would do for the country (or whomever the constituent may be) and if it would benefit the people in the long run.

Some kids simply aren't responsible enough to vote, while many others, I believe, would be able to. I think it all depends on a matter of maturity in the voter and their capability to select a candidate based off of logical reasons why they would be best for the constituent.

[Dundun99]

definatley not, you know what us teens are like, that wouldnt go well lol

[The Trendy Wolf]

I agree but I believe that some 11/12 year olds are mature enough to vote.

Considering the fact that most kids that age haven't taken a civics class, I'm not sure if they would be capable of choosing a candidate based on if they believe that what they claim to do for the constituent will benefit the country the most. This doesn't apply to every one of them, of course.

[chezhans]

In Australia, voting is compulsory---and we need EVERY kid to vote because adults make terrible decisions in this country! Not sure about other countries' situations however!

[Body odah Man]

In Australia, voting is compulsory---and we need EVERY kid to vote because adults make terrible decisions in this country! Not sure about other countries' situations however!

You have a VERY wise country my friend.

[SubCulture]

Yeah, lower it. I'm pretty sure that a lot of adults are either uninformed of biased as well. Look at all the people who exclusively get all their information from Alex Jones, Glenn Beck, or Rachel Maddow. Also, age is a horrible tool to judge character by. We need to stop looking at books by their cover.

[roadwarrior]

No, kids doesn't have too much knowledge in politics.. and it can just add more problems in the election..

[Laquifa]

No, no no no no no, no no no, no, no no, HELL NO.

My peers are either politically inept or apolitical, so either we make our voter turnout look shittier than it is, or we have a bunch of uninformed nitwits making extremely important policy decisions. That would completely ruin the entire Democratic process!

Voting rights should be based on passing some sort of political ignorance test, not on age.

I much favor this. If you're extreme right, you don't get to vote. If you're extreme left, you don't get to vote. If you are uninformed, you don't get to vote. We need to get the Conservaturds(1) and Libtards(2)(3) out of the voting process, they only manage to fuck up the entire process.



Those blinded by the extremest ideals of the US Republicans, the Conservative side of Government, and Faux News.
Those blinded by the extremest ideals of the US Democrats, and the Liberal side of Government.
As a Liberal Democrat, I can say we need to get these motherfuckers out of the process as well. I favor liberals, but sometimes they can go way too far.