Voting Age

[northy]

Now this is an interesting topic.

Before the 1970s, the legal voting age was 21 in almost every country in Europe. Very few countries had been willing to follow the example set by Czechoslovakia in 1946, when it had become the first country in the world to grant suffrage to 18-year-olds. Czechoslovakia would go on to suffer four decades of Communist dictatorship, so arguably it wouldn’t be until 1970 – when the UK and Germany lowered the voting age – that 18-year-old Europeans would reliably be able to exercise the vote.

Today, Austria is the only country in Europe that allows 16-year-olds to vote in national elections. However, the voting age has been lowered for local elections in many countries, and national debates are taking place on this issue across the EU. In future, will Austria be seen as a pioneer in the same way as Czechoslovakia in 1946?

In addition, do you think that the voting age should be lowered to 16? I think it should and will be genuinely disappointed if David Cameron moves the referendum forward to before my 18th birthday, whilst the scots get to vote? Seems a little unfair.

[Falcons_11]

In the USA the legal voting age is 18. The 26th amendment to the Constitution lowered the voting from 21. It was enacted in 1971. It was the result of student protest around the country brought on by the war in Viet Nam.

[West Coast Sheriff]

People don't know what to vote for at 16.

[lliam]

People don't know what to vote for at 16.

Let's be honest, most of the 18 olds neither.

[West Coast Sheriff]

Let's be honest, most of the 18 olds neither.

I was about to say we should think about raising it back to 21. I'm not saying, raise it to 21 but it doesn't hurt to think about it.

[Judean Zealot]

It's always been 18 in Israel, but I think it ought to be changed to 20.

[lliam]

I was about to say we should think about raising it back to 21. I'm not saying, raise it to 21 but it doesn't hurt to think about it.


How about, if we begin to make younger generations being more politically interested instead ... certainly appropriate to the state of age.

I think that's the main problem. Kids and teens are rarely taken seriously, which is why they are hardly interested in real political issues, not to mention they get active involved in social or political stuff ... in order to learn responsibilty and such.

[Judean Zealot]

How about, if we begin to make younger generations being more politically interested instead ... certainly appropriate to the state of age.

I think that's the main problem. Kids and teens are rarely taken seriously, which is why they are hardly interested in real political issues, not to mention they get active involved in social or political stuff ... in order to learn responsibilty and such.

I would say it works the other way around: because most teens are apathetic to the real political issues they aren't taken seriously. And the ones that do take it seriously are very malleable the first few years; their ideas aren't yet developed. It's like "Oh, you decided to switch from conservative to communist overnight? That's cute".

Of course, though, I agree with you that they should be better educated about their civic duties, but don't expect it to help much, kids are more interested in watching porn and playing video games.

[lliam]

I would say it works the other way around: because most teens are apathetic to the real political issues they aren't taken seriously. And the ones that do take it seriously are very malleable the first few years; their ideas aren't yet developed. It's like "Oh, you decided to switch from conservative to communist overnight? That's cute".


imo, you are describing just the ignorance of adults, even it's a fact that teens often switching their povs.

Therefore, I mentioned "age-appropriate". It's an educational thing. And that begins precisely with taking even childish ideas seriously.

I think it'is generally accepted that children who are taken seriously, evolve very early some political maturity ... just to stay on topic.

Also I find that even some of the 21-year-old can't be stated as very political mature.

[Babs]

I think 18's an alright age for that.

[West Coast Sheriff]

I think 18's an alright age for that.

I think 18 is a good age too. However, measures should be taken to ensure young voters are educated.

[mattsmith48]

I think 18 is fine. 18 is when you can start to legally drink in most countries, its the age your finishing high school and when you can leave the house and really be independent. before starting to think about lowering the voting age you should not only educate young voters but get them more interested in politics

[tovaris]

Now this is an interesting topic.

Before the 1970s, the legal voting age was 21 in almost every country in Europe. Very few countries had been willing to follow the example set by Czechoslovakia in 1946, when it had become the first country in the world to grant suffrage to 18-year-olds. Czechoslovakia would go on to suffer four decades of Communist dictatorship, so arguably it wouldn’t be until 1970 – when the UK and Germany lowered the voting age – that 18-year-old Europeans would reliably be able to exercise the vote.

Today, Austria is the only country in Europe that allows 16-year-olds to vote in national elections. However, the voting age has been lowered for local elections in many countries, and national debates are taking place on this issue across the EU. In future, will Austria be seen as a pioneer in the same way as Czechoslovakia in 1946?

In addition, do you think that the voting age should be lowered to 16? I think it should and will be genuinely disappointed if David Cameron moves the referendum forward to before my 18th birthday, whilst the scots get to vote? Seems a little unfair.

I must corect your history man. In the Kings Yugoslavia the voting age was 18 after the coup in '41. While 18 y. o. would get to actuly vote in '45 when the german beest was defeted.

Also Austria is not the only one we also have Scotland.

It is my opinion children should not be alowed to vote and we should incres the voting age to 25.

[Shiny Moon]

I think 18 is ok. Most of us under 16 do not care too much about politics yet, so I don't think it's a good idea to lower it even more.

[tovaris]

Let's be honest, most of the 18 olds neither.

That's why i say we need to raise it not lower it.

I was about to say we should think about raising it back to 21. I'm not saying, raise it to 21 but it doesn't hurt to think about it.

This is actually a good idea. You see the prefronatal cortex only finishes developing at 21-25 that's why young people are more prone to stupid mistakes, the misjudgment of danger and consequences is the cause, since it is your forehead that thinks about that.

How about, if we begin to make younger generations being more politically interested instead ... certainly appropriate to the state of age.

I think that's the main problem. Kids and teens are rarely taken seriously, which is why they are hardly interested in real political issues, not to mention they get active involved in social or political stuff ... in order to learn responsibilty and such.

This has beed widly atempted in the 20th century with the "pionirs" and "the youth". Some parties to this day have their "young corp"


/.../
"Oh, you decided to switch from conservative to communist overnight? That's cute".
/.../

Me at cca. 13 :P.


/.../
Of course, though, I agree with you that they should be better educated about their civic duties, but don't expect it to help much, kids are more interested in watching porn and playing video games.

W3 should start the civic duty education as soon as they enter school (age 6). And by the time they want to wank every 5 minutes a larger portion of them will be distracted by say the global powerty or something. And a lot of porn watchers will be vorking on different porn legislations.

[Falcons_11]

I think 18 is ok. Most of us under 16 do not care too much about politics yet, so I don't think it's a good idea to lower it even more.

I am with you. I'm 13 and I do care who makes the laws and rules us. But most of my friends really don't give a rat's ass about politics and that's cool too. So to lower the voting age below 18 isn't a good idea. Frankly, I think that a lot of adults who do vote don't give a rat's ass about politics either and they do vote.

[ImCoolBeans]

I think an argument for raising the voting age back up to 21 would be stronger than lowering it to 16, but that is just my opinion. At 16 you cannot make objective decisions like somebody in their early 20's can make. When you're 16 years old, every decision you make has some kind of emotional factor involved, whether you want to agree with it or not. Your brain is not capable of making truly analytical decisions until about the age of 22-24 years. Raising the voting age to 21 sounds like a better idea than lowering it to 16 because you will have more rational, objective voters, whereas 16 year old voters would be mainly be deciding based on emotion or influence. So my answer is no, the voting age should not be lowered to 16.

[lliam]

That's why i say we need to raise it not lower it.


Ok. If we consider that infantilization of the last 3 decades nowadays reached the 40yo peps, we should set the age at 31 years.

Entitled to vote at age of 31 yrs would thus correspond to a lowering down to 16 years.


I can live with that. :D


When you're 16 years old, every decision you make has some kind of emotional factor involved, whether you want to agree with it or not. Your brain is not capable of making truly analytical decisions until about the age of 22-24 years.

Indeed, your right. But I contend that most adults vote rarely rational.

Just oberserve any election campaign. Each canditdat, or party prefer the emotional factor, even if they try to camouflage it subliminally.

So, the somewhat higher emotional factor of the 16 year olds is just an argument that should be discussed only rudimentary.

Sure, we humans can make rationall decisions, but even those aren't ever free from emotional influences.

Every human is just an inner-emotional being ... and yes, even those who seem to be pure rationalists.

[ImCoolBeans]

Ok. If we consider that infantilization of the last 3 decades nowadays reached the 40yo peps, we should set the age at 31 years.

Entitled to vote at age of 31 yrs would thus correspond to a lowering down to 16 years.


I can live with that. :D




Indeed, your right. But I contend that most adults vote rarely rational.

Just oberserve any election campaign. Each canditdat, or party prefer the emotional factor, even if they try to camouflage it subliminally.

So, the somewhat higher emotional factor of the 16 year olds is just an argument that should be discussed only rudimentary.

Sure, we humans can make rationall decisions, but even those aren't ever free from emotional influences.

Every human is just an inner-emotional being ... and yes, even those who seem to be pure rationalists.

I agree that most humans, adults specifically, are emotional beings. Much more so than they are rational. But generally speaking, emotionally mature adults are far more rational than adolescents, which 16 year olds are. Emotional maturity only goes so far, but until about the age of 24 you are not really considered emotionally mature.

[Microcosm]

I'd like to say that it depends on who you're talking to, that some sixteen year olds are pretty well-rounded and emotionally eligible to make competent decisions such as voting. It sort of depends on the person. Some people who are above the legal voting age are emotionally and mentally less qualified than some sixteen year olds yet they still get to vote because of their age. In the perfect world, a sort of competency test would determine the ability to maturely vote. But that could be said to violate the natural right to vote if it requires a test.

[Hyper]

A part of me says ''No 16/18 is too young etc''

But the cynical part of me knows that a lot of 18+/21+ are too stupid/emotional - but then again so are most people... So what does it really matter? Only straw I could clutch at is that persons younger than 21 are likely to be more easily manipulated and influenced than those above 21 but I suspect the difference is negligible.

[Chapperz16]

I reckon that whilst the voting age should be open to reform when concerned with certain events i.e. whether the UK should stay a member country of the EU, 16-18 year olds deserve the right to vote for their future however I feel that for general issues, the voting age should be restricted to those who are 18 or above.

[Merk]

MaybE the minimal age for local ie state voters might have reasons to be lowerd... but I don't believe that national voting should be influenced by adolescents. I just don't believe that ALL adolescents are ready To make a desition of such size. Even some of the legal adults in America aren't even ready to vote. America does NOT need another Obama.

[Chapperz16]

MaybE the minimal age for local ie state voters might have reasons to be lowerd... but I don't believe that national voting should be influenced by adolescents. I just don't believe that ALL adolescents are ready To make a desition of such size. Even some of the legal adults in America aren't even ready to vote. America does NOT need another Obama.

Man Obama has been your best president for a long time. He has common sense bro

[mahony0509]

I understand you want to have your say and all that but realistically, 16 y/o's would have no idea. You may have some knowledge of politics but others don't. There's a bunch of people out there who'd take the piss.

[Merk]

Man Obama has been your best president for a long time. He has common sense bro
:( well you don't live in the US so ya don't see what he does... he is not a good potus...

[Chapperz16]

:( well you don't live in the US so ya don't see what he does... he is not a good potus...

Who dod you want to win this upcoming electon?

[Uniquemind]

A part of me says ''No 16/18 is too young etc''

But the cynical part of me knows that a lot of 18+/21+ are too stupid/emotional - but then again so are most people... So what does it really matter? Only straw I could clutch at is that persons younger than 21 are likely to be more easily manipulated and influenced than those above 21 but I suspect the difference is negligible.

Stupid is everywhere, but so is intellect.

I'm a minor but, and not to boast, I think I've proven enough critical thinking skills to vote wisely.

Most of my peers aren't on my level though and they never want to talk politics.

It's why I come here to talk politics.

[Merk]

well , I personally like Trump.

[tovaris]

I understand you want to have your say and all that but realistically, 16 y/o's would have no idea. You may have some knowledge of politics but others don't. There's a bunch of people out there who'd take the piss.

Maybe if we introduced citizend to voting step by tep. 16 vote for local comunety, 18 city level elections, 20-21 country...

[mahony0509]

Maybe if we introduced citizend to voting step by tep. 16 vote for local comunety, 18 city level elections, 20-21 country...

I like that, that's good.

[West Coast Sheriff]

MaybE the minimal age for local ie state voters might have reasons to be lowerd... but I don't believe that national voting should be influenced by adolescents. I just don't believe that ALL adolescents are ready To make a desition of such size. Even some of the legal adults in America aren't even ready to vote. America does NOT need another Obama.

I exactly agree with you. He is trying to change America so much. Like Marci Rubio said four times in one night, "president Obama knows exactly what he is doing."

:( well you don't live in the US so ya don't see what he does... he is not a good potus...

Agreed.

well , I personally like Trump.

You lost me there. Trump is not what America needs in my opinion. We have to many people falling for him and that's a problem. There are enough/too much adults supporting Trump, we don't need adolescents supporting him either. People who support him show why a lot of people aren't ready to vote. While some supporters are educated, many aren't. This includes 50 and 60 year olds. I thank Obama for creating the want for the Donald. After all of his policies, people are hoping for someone to make America great again. I just don't think the Donald can do it.

Stupid is everywhere, but so is intellect.

I'm a minor but, and not to boast, I think I've proven enough critical thinking skills to vote wisely.

Most of my peers aren't on my level though and they never want to talk politics.

It's why I come here to talk politics.

For sure, some teenagers are smart enough to vote. However, too many would be influenced poorly and that's why we should keep the age it is.

We could have a theoretical election where Jane Doe runs against John Smith. Let's say, Jane is way more qualified for the job, to an obvious point. Smart people can still vote for John smith even if he's incompetent. Uneducated people still may support Jane even if they have no clue about politics.

So supporting Trump, even if he's a bad candidate doesn't make the voter any less smart. I want to clarify I wasn't implying anything like that.

[Uniquemind]

I exactly agree with you. He is trying to change America so much. Like Marci Rubio said four times in one night, "president Obama knows exactly what he is doing."



Agreed.



You lost me there. Trump is not what America needs in my opinion. We have to many people falling for him and that's a problem. There are enough/too much adults supporting Trump, we don't need adolescents supporting him either. People who support him show why a lot of people aren't ready to vote. While some supporters are educated, many aren't. This includes 50 and 60 year olds. I thank Obama for creating the want for the Donald. After all of his policies, people are hoping for someone to make America great again. I just don't think the Donald can do it.



For sure, some teenagers are smart enough to vote. However, too many would be influenced poorly and that's why we should keep the age it is.

We could have a theoretical election where Jane Doe runs against John Smith. Let's say, Jane is way more qualified for the job, to an obvious point. Smart people can still vote for John smith even if he's incompetent. Uneducated people still may support Jane even if they have no clue about politics.

So supporting Trump, even if he's a bad candidate doesn't make the voter any less smart. I want to clarify I wasn't implying anything like that.

And no offense but the same quote you're using from Marco Rubio is why Chris Christie jumped on Marco Rubio for being a scripted fake candidate that doesn't really have the mind and impromptu experience to be a leader.


You think Marco sounded great, that's not how a majority of that audience interpreted him that might. Chris Christie won that debate and was more honest sounding.


But you see this is why younger people aren't allowed to vote, they can't balance multiple perspectives at once nor are they able to detect false deceptive marketing, young people are too emotionally swayed and forget that while they shape the future, the older people still contain the power and change is a LONG painful game with powerful adversaries and resources.

For even 18-26 year olds to vote smartly, they gotta lower their expectations without succumbing to apathy if they don't get their way.


A perfect example is why young people forget to consistently back Obama.

Obama has their backs, but because can't do 100% of what he claimed he could on his campaign suddenly he's a "betrayer", no not necessarily, perhaps it's the voter who has too high expectations and is too sensitive.



I don't see enough people remembering that it was Ted Cruz that caused the government to shutdown back in fall 2013.

[West Coast Sheriff]

Uniquemind

While I agree with Rubio about his repeated remarks, I was intentionally poking fun at him.

[dbfordateam]

I think the voting age is fine. If you can be drafted into the military at age 18 you should be able to vote, this isn't the vietnam war, we've already fixed that voting issue

[Uniquemind]

I think the voting age is fine. If you can be drafted into the military at age 18 you should be able to vote, this isn't the vietnam war, we've already fixed that voting issue

Both boys and girls can be drafted now too.

Birthrate wise idk if that was a wise move. The USA recovered after WWII, because of the baby boom, and societies recover their populations faster when the women are on home soil and not killed in combat.

The classic reasoning why men fight, and why women are prizes in war, was in-part due to population recover speed. Wombs and eggs are valuable, sperm is cheap.

Although modern warfare is so technological now idk if soldiers even matter as much as they used too.

[Atlantis]

The voting age is 18 here. Some people at that age are very knowledgable and follow politics. Some aren't.