Being able to vote is a privilege that has been granted to us at the age of 18 for over 40 years now. Although 18 year olds and above are granted the opportunity to vote in something that can make a difference in politics not everyone takes the time to participate in voting. Most of the voting has been done by older people because they have had more experience and interest in politics. With that being said I think the more realistic decision to make is keeping 16 and 17- years olds from voting until they reach the age of 18. On November 13, 2017, Annys Shin published an article called Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history making moment at the polls. In that article Shin explains that in the Montgomery County has been one of the first communities to allow 16 and 17-years olds to vote. The student that have been elected to vote felt important and special for being able to have a say in votes at such a young age. For those who weren’t chosen might of not had a problem with it simply because they weren’t interested. Even when they teen reach the age of 18 the first thing they think about is not running up to a poll and vote, they have money other ideas then waiting so long to go to the polls and voting at the first opportunity that they get. We cannot be more excited to have the 16-17 year olds vote then they are themselves. If they are not eager to vote at 16-17 then why even have the idea to push them to be hungry to vote and be involved in politics. The teens that
British dramatist Shakespeare once said that there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes. Through the ages, controversies about voting age have not quieted down, and there are more and more different opinions about voting age like it should increase to 21, or it should decrease to 17 or 16, even 13. Like a coin has two sides, each opinion has both advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, I prefer the voting age to be 18 in the United States. Teenagers who are 18 years old are independent enough to make their own decisions, and they should have the vote right as other adults do.
They can make immature choices regarding politics and at the same time not really care about politics activities. It is normal that teens can be irrational, unreasonable and complain about things because they are still in their process of maturation and growing up. Still, when it comes to voting it can risky that they could be given the right to vote at that age because they might not think about their impulsive decisions or the consequences of their decisions when it comes to politics activities. They get distracted by everything and focus more on technology and relationships in school; therefore, they are still maturing. People at the age of 16 are not mature enough, they do not pay attention of their consequences of their choices. They might not make serious decisions about many stuff because they think they are not adults yet. This might change a little be more when they turn 18 years old , they might have matured a little be more and if not, they are self-aware that at 18 years old they are seen as adults and expect from them to act as adults and make serious decisions. According to article, “Current voting age in US should not be lowered” by Vanessa Way, concluded, “If we can’t confidently trust a 16 year old to drive a vehicle, how could we trust them to make an informed decision about voting on the highest political positions in the country?... The fact is, most adult Americans don’t understand how the government works or how the people they vote into office affects it. They are just as easily influenced by the politicians as teenagers are…However, if we can’t trust these kids to look after themselves, how can we trust them to make responsible decisions for our country? Their vote affects us, too.” Adolescence in general, most of them do not understand their consequences of their act and most of the time they do not think before
Imagine a time where teenagers are allowed to vote on important positions or issues that could possibly define our nation’s future. The average teenager may seem responsible, but would they be able to handle the responsibility of deciding our nation’s fate in the world as well as their own. In the article, “ Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history making moment at the polls,” Annys Shin, who writes in depth about the historical event as well as shares valued opinions of those who participated in the making of this event, exclaims that the, “ Montgomery County community [was] the nation’s first to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.” This seems to be a test to determine if the nation should lower the voting age completely. However, this test shows varying results, but majority seem to shed some light on the fact that teenagers simply should not take part in voting. The average teenagers seem too young to be mature about issues, are uninterested in what major decisions are made by the government, and are simply being used by their parentals for an extra person support their own beliefs.
If the voting age was lowered, this would help to fix that issue. As said earlier, 16-year-olds are much more likely to vote than 18-year-olds. Also, they are more likely to continue to vote later in life if they start earlier!
If maturity is the issue, it important to take into account that 16 year olds are just as informed as 18 year olds (in some cases more so). In fact there could be many 20, 30, or even 40 year olds who are irresponsible, do not make informed decisions and are clueless; this does not mean we deny them the right vote. Just because they are older necessarily does not mean they know everything in detail about politics because they have more life experience and can make better informed judgements than a 16 year old.
In the article “Takoma Park 16-year-old Savors his History-Making Moment at the Polls,” written by Annys Shin, the author focuses on whether or not lowering the voting age from 18 is a good idea towards politics, by looking at the benefits and the disadvantages of both sides. In 2013, the city of Takoma Park was the first to lower the voting age to 16 and change the 26th Amendment in their municipal. Ben Miller and other 16- and 17-year-olds were capable of stepping into a booth and casting their vote at the Takoma Park Community Center. Allowing this age group to cast a vote will lead more teenagers to vote than their older peers, it will get them into the habit of voting for the rest of their lives, and it will also increase their personal
In Anny Shin’s article , “ Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history making moment at the polls” she explains to us how this 16 year old boy enjoyed being able to do something a lot of young people can't and that is to vote. Takoma City is making a huge step by being the first place a person younger than 18 could vote. As evidence from ,“ Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history making moment at the polls” , by Anny Shin when she writes, “Ben Miller plans to step into the booth and become at the Takoma Park Community Center and do something that the country’s other 16 year olds can’t: cast a vote in an election”.This is a good idea, because the U.S has low voter turnout rates and if we can lower the age of voters, then we might just see
America has been built on the idea that as citizens, we have the choice to decide what is the best for our country. Millions of Americans cast their vote every election day to make sure their voices are heard on who is going to run their country and what new policies they will bring with them. As stated in Anny Shin’s article, “Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history-making moment at the polls,” voting is a, “valuable privilege,” in which many don’t realize. In the United States, not every is allowed to vote, only 18-year old citizens are allowed to vote. However the number of 18-year olds voting is very low and this has been an issue in the political for quite a while. The concerns and desires of most millennials are not being expressed as many are not voting. Many, like the city of Takoma have proposed to allow 16 and 17-year olds to vote as they believe that voting among millennials will increase.
Allowing teens that are sixteen and seventeen vote is a good idea because many kids have a dream of their own. Ben miller, who is one of the first sixteen years olds to vote stated “it's a valuable privilege”, Which in all ways he's correct not many countries allow their younger generations to vote. After the “26 amendment gave 18-year-olds the right to vote” (shin) the rate of voter registration want up. The younger teenagers are considered more likely to vote than the elders. This showed a small difference in the outturn making it a better chance for whatever candidate to be chosen. Although, Miller did not have a driver's license yet he was still able to vote because of his “pre-register” which allowed him to vote “through the Motor vehicle administration”(shin). Even though his mother was a”writer and whose father does international relief and development work”(shin), he was
In the article, “Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history-making moment at the polls,” by Annys Shin, many teens who are 16-17 years old can now vote during the election. The decision was made by the Takoma City Council that in Montgomery County Community, they are the first ones in the nation to lower their voting age from 18-16 years old. A group of 350 students from Montgomery Blair High School were granted the right to vote in elections and one of the student who got the right to vote, Ben Miller had said, “ It’s a valuable Privilege,” and he means that it is a great advantage that many 16-17 years old can now vote. Many young adults who are the age of 18 are most likely not a good age to vote because many of them are planning to leave their childhood homes. And they can lack of discipline and causes them not to vote.
In conclusion, young voters need to take an active role in government in order to continue one of the founding principles of our country which is that we are an democratically elected republic who is looking out for the interest of all of its people. The problem lies not within the older generation who have high turnout rates and are concerned with supporting issues relative to their stage in life. Instead, the burden lies upon the apathetic younger generation whose unique ideals, viewpoints, and experiences are being squandered because we are not voting. It is time for young Americans to step up to the plate.
In the article, “Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history making moment at the polls”, by Annys Shin, it is said that Ben Miller a 16-year-old boy walked into the toll booth at Takoma Park Community Center and was planned to do something about the fact that 16-year-olds cannot vote in the election. This brings up an interesting argument of whether or not 16 and 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote. People will argue that 16 and 17-year-olds do not know what they are doing or just have a lack of interest and that is a reason why some say no to letting them vote but others say that it could mean the difference in the election.
One of our most, and many would argue, the most valuable rights as citizens of a democracy is our right to vote. It gives us a voice in the direction our elected representatives steer our country. Unfortunately, historically young voters are underrepresented due to their low voting turnout. This came as a shock to me being a young voter myself. Growing up in California I was excited about getting the chance to vote, to have a voice as it were. However, this is clearly not the case for all potential young voters.
From “when in the course of human events teenagers should have the right to vote at the age 16 and above. In order for you to vote, you have to take a political test so that you display your preference and knowledge about the political world , and you have your chance to choose who you want.
Younger people ages 18 – 24 have been less likely to vote in the past due to lack of interest, money, or time to go. Also, they just had a lack of information so they just didn’t care to have