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Should the voting age be 16? Should the voting age be 16?
Yes, the age should be lowered Yes, the age should be lowered
No, the voting age is fine as it is No, the voting age is fine as it is
No, the age requirement should be raised No, the age requirement should be raised
More voices should be involved in the process More voices should be involved in the process
16-year-olds are capable of formulating opinions 16-year-olds are capable of formulating opinions
They have adult responsibilities, but can't vote They have adult responsibilities, but can't vote
We should start incorporating politics as early as possible We should start incorporating politics as early as possible
The legal age of an adult is eighteen The legal age of an adult is eighteen
Responsibilities are really starting Responsibilities are really starting
If someone can be drafted, they should be able to vote If someone can be drafted, they should be able to vote
Life experience should be required Life experience should be required
The age category of 18-29 has very low turnout The age category of 18-29 has very low turnout
Young people are easily influenced and manipulated Young people are easily influenced and manipulated
The brain isn't fully developed until 25 The brain isn't fully developed until 25
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Should the voting age be 16?
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No, the age requirement should be raised

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Life experience should be required

People under twenty haven't had the life experience to understand what they are voting for.
Robert Tracinski
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The Argument

By twenty, an average human being has typically experienced a lot more than your average teenager. Between the ages of 17 and 20, teens must prepare incredibly quickly for the future ahead of them. Essays, applications, resumes. The shift from the shell of high school to adulthood happens very fast. By raising the age requirement, voters would be able to become more well-rounded individuals, fully shaping and identifying their views and opinions before contributing in a vote. They would be able to experience the beginning of what adulthood is really like and understand more how policies affect them, rather than making assumptions.

Counter arguments

Many young adults have experienced things in this life that adults years older than them have never even heard of. Comparing experiences to the different age categories is not an accurate method of scoping out a proper minimum voting age requirement, as people can have different experiences and mature at wildly different ages.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] The older one gets, the more life experience they gain. [P2] Educated and quality votes require life experience.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] People gain life experience at different rates. [Rejecting P2] What one experiences shouldn't be required to vote.

References

This page was last edited on Monday, 30 Mar 2020 at 11:30 UTC

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