Should the voting age be lowered?

Web Diva said:
I'm not sure, here in the US, one party wants to lower the voting age, but for the wrong reasons.
Click to expand...
What wrong reasons would you believe in? I'm just curious :)

Web Diva said:
I still think 18 is good, but there are very mature 16 year olds that I would trust voting. Double-edged sword?
Click to expand...
I have a question for you... why would someone who isn't into politics bother to vote?
Apart from the risk that children may be influenced by their parents; subsequently, the votes of those with kids count more hence those without kids are disadvantaged :p
Any other ideas?
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
What wrong reasons would you believe in? I'm just curious :)


I have a question for you... why would someone who isn't into politics bother to vote?
Apart from the risk that children may be influenced by their parents; subsequently, the votes of those with kids count more hence those without kids are disadvantaged :p
Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

This party is always trying to use sub-groups for their voting base and they know they can persuade a younger person with less experience to vote their way.

People usually don't vote if they are not into politics or not of the awareness of laws and legislation that would affect them if they didn't vote. I was reared it was my civic duty to vote and if I didn't vote, then I had no room to complain. Not every family puts that emphasis on voting and I realize that's becoming a parenting relic to teach kids about government and how voting affects in all city, state and federal areas of the government.
 
Web Diva said:
People usually don't vote if they are not into politics or not of the awareness of laws and legislation that would affect them if they didn't vote.
Click to expand...
I don't know. I've heard many stories of kids being forced, by their parents, to pursue a particular career choice against their will.
Similarly I would not be surprised if parents also had excessive influences over their kids' political views.

Web Diva said:
I was reared it was my civic duty to vote and if I didn't vote, then I had no room to complain.
Click to expand...
I wish I voted against Brexit. I had an exam that next day and was too stressed out to take the time to vote due to time constraints, assuming that everyone would vote against Brexit.
Turns out NOOOO... perhaps everyone thought the same way and...
Pink Fail GIF by Jacqueline Jing Lin



Web Diva said:
This party is always trying to use sub-groups for their voting base and they know they can persuade a younger person with less experience to vote their way.
Click to expand...
Oh yes, then again, there are many adults who may not be into politics and be easily influenced.
Just like there are many kids who can hold intellectual debates.
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
I don't know. I've heard many stories of kids being forced, by their parents, to pursue a particular career choice against their will.
Similarly I would not be surprised if parents also had excessive influences over their kids' political views.


I wish I voted against Brexit. I had an exam that next day and was too stressed out to take the time to vote due to time constraints, assuming that everyone would vote against Brexit.
Turns out NOOOO... perhaps everyone thought the same way and...
Pink Fail GIF by Jacqueline Jing Lin




Oh yes, then again, there are many adults who may not be into politics and be easily influenced.
Just like there are many kids who can hold intellectual debates.
Click to expand...
I've learned from experience that forcing a child to do something doesn't work....it's our job as a parent to teach values, open their world and let them decide for their selves when that time comes....of course parents always hope their kids will run by their thoughts in discussions so parents feel part of their world in some way.

I'm sorry you missed voting....and yes, many parents can be very influential to the point of being unhealthy to their children. I think that's why kids rebel when they grow up because the parent didn't listen to them in the first place.
 
Web Diva said:
I think that's why kids rebel when they grow up because the parent didn't listen to them in the first place.
Click to expand...
So true, forcefully pushing your views onto someone else generally backfires, having the opposite effect :p

Web Diva said:
I've learned from experience that forcing a child to do something doesn't work....
Click to expand...
I agree with that, when it comes to something a child wants. But if it's something like politics, a child may just do what their parents want them to do. Because maybe they don't really care. I suppose that could happen with anyone though, not just kids. I've seen it many times.

For example, you may be surprised to learn that "What is the EU?" was the most frequently googled term in the UK around the time of the Brexit vote.

We're having a debate on whether the voting age should be lowered, yet it could be said that it's not age that matters, but rather political awareness. You reckon perhaps asking all voters to take a political quiz ,with a pass mark required to vote to gauge the voters' political awareness, would be a good idea prior to voting?

Web Diva said:
it's our job as a parent to teach values, open their world and let them decide for their selves when that time comes....of course parents always hope their kids will run by their thoughts in discussions so parents feel part of their world in some way.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Sure, but a parent may have biased political viewpoints and miss out on the entire story when feeding it to their child. Ultimately, the parent influences the child, not by dictation sure I agree with you on that front, but by persuasion? Just something to consider :)
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
So true, forcefully pushing your views onto someone else generally backfires, having the opposite effect :p


I agree with that, when it comes to something a child wants. But if it's something like politics, a child may just do what their parents want them to do. Because maybe they don't really care. I suppose that could happen with anyone though, not just kids. I've seen it many times.

For example, you may be surprised to learn that "What is the EU?" was the most frequently googled term in the UK around the time of the Brexit vote.

We're having a debate on whether the voting age should be lowered, yet it could be said that it's not age that matters, but rather political awareness. You reckon perhaps asking all voters to take a political quiz ,with a pass mark required to vote to gauge the voters' political awareness, would be a good idea prior to voting?


Sure, but a parent may have biased political viewpoints and miss out on the entire story when feeding it to their child. Ultimately, the parent influences the child, not by dictation sure I agree with you on that front, but by persuasion? Just something to consider :)
Click to expand...
An example, if a child is pushed to go to church all of their youth, what happens when they leave home...do they rebel, some do. Your quiz on political awareness is an intriguing way to gauge a person's ability to vote.
Nomad said:
In our country, you will become a citizen when you are 16 years of age but you need to wait until 18 to be able to get voting rights. I think 18 is the most appropriate age. I feel people under 18 can be easily manipulated by other people, therefore elections wouldn't be fair.
Click to expand...
I get that....I'm not sure I was totally politically aware until I was 18.
 
Web Diva said:
An example, if a child is pushed to go to church all of their youth, what happens when they leave home...do they rebel, some do. Your quiz on political awareness is an intriguing way to gauge a person's ability to vote.
Click to expand...
Sure, that tends to happen when it comes to religion and all that. My mum's Hindi while I'm agnostic. I hated having vegetarian views imposed on me as a kid. I grew up as a rebel :p

I don't think that would be the case for politics :)
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
Sure, that tends to happen when it comes to religion and all that. My mum's Hindi while I'm agnostic. I hated having vegetarian views imposed on me as a kid. I grew up as a rebel :p

I don't think that would be the case for politics :)
Click to expand...
Children do tend to emulate their parents and I can look at generations of families that tend to vote the same way, so I get what you are saying about politics may not fit in that "box".
 
Last edited:
Voting in my country have always been a **** show. The legal voting age is supposed to be 18 years but whenever it's election time, the Northern part of Nigeria will have kids as young as 5 years of out to vote and the electoral body in charge will allow them to vote instead of having them disqualified.
 
At the moment the legal age to vote is 18 in most countries but many people do seem to want to see it lowered.

I wouldn't say I am against lowering it as I do feel that 16-year-olds should have a say but it would also go by maturity as well. Whilst some 16-year-olds are mature you do get the ones that are not and would probably not take voting as seriously as they should and that could cause issues.
 
Heatman said:
Voting in my country have always been a **** show. The legal voting age is supposed to be 18 years but whenever it's election time, the Northern part of Nigeria will have kids as young as 5 years of out to vote and the electoral body in charge will allow them to vote instead of having them disqualified.
Click to expand...
I recall pretences of internet connection failures when it comes to voting for opponent parties. So, not surprising but shocking at the same time

Shortie said:
Whilst some 16-year-olds are mature you do get the ones that are not and would probably not take voting as seriously as they should and that could cause issues.
Click to expand...
What sort of issues would you say? Parental influences?
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
What sort of issues would you say? Parental influences?
Click to expand...
Parental issues are definitely one thing I would worry about but it's also that most 16-year-olds also probably don't follow politics as much as they may be able to and would possibly only vote because their friends are like it was a trend. This would result in votes just being made for the sake of it and not being carefully considered as many adults do now.
 
Shortie said:
Parental issues are definitely one thing I would worry about but it's also that most 16-year-olds also probably don't follow politics as much as they may be able to and would possibly only vote because their friends are like it was a trend. This would result in votes just being made for the sake of it and not being carefully considered as many adults do now.
Click to expand...
I get the trend thing, I do. I used to get that when it came to silly votes with regards to proms and things like that :p
 
For me I would suggest the voting process to remain at 18 years old. My reason being at this age, most young men are matured enough to think on who is bad and who is nice to vote for them.
Secondly at this age most of the young people would have completed the high school and are supposed to be heading to the higher learning institutions.
This means then these people are matured enough to make their personal decision in life and in the sense that they are issued with the identity cards at this age.

However at 16 years of age , I think the age is very tender for most of them and majority of them would be still in school.
 
Stardom22 said:
For me I would suggest the voting process to remain at 18 years old. My reason being at this age, most young men are matured enough to think on who is bad and who is nice to vote for them.
Secondly at this age most of the young people would have completed the high school and are supposed to be heading to the higher learning institutions.
This means then these people are matured enough to make their personal decision in life and in the sense that they are issued with the identity cards at this age.

However at 16 years of age , I think the age is very tender for most of them and majority of them would be still in school.
Click to expand...
I respect your opinion of course, but I don't think the maturity level of humans these days changes much, if at all, between ages 16 and 18. Maybe 21 would be a more suitable age IMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
718Threads
6,128Messages
61Members
KeraLatest member
Top