Do you think the voting age should be raised to 21?

The Dude

I think you should have to pass a test to vote...ignorance has no place in elections

to give me a thumbs down suggests that you feel it's ok for the uninformed to cast a vote in something that is very serious...I'm not talking an extremely difficult test....what are the three branches of government? which branch is the president a part of? I guess it's safe to say Obama would not get elected if this was the case.

Also, I think the age should be lowred to 16....if you can pass the test, your vote is worth casting. Age should not limit your right to vote, but your awareness of politics should.

downsouth_houston

if you can be sent to war at 18

you should be able to vote for the man in charge of sending you to war

Sean

Most definitely!!

It's a rare 18 year old that has a clue about politics or real life.

Mr. Q

The point of lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 was that it didn't make sense that you can serve the country in the army, but not vote for who's commanding you.

lil' 4 cyl

I know just as many 21 year olds who don't know the president from the man on the moon. The same goes for people even older than that. The 18 year olds who actually DO vote are the ones interested. The ones who do not are the ones who don't care how anything goes, therefor not wasting their vote. I think I'd be pretty upset if I was 18 years old, going into the army, but couldn't vote for the president calling all the shots that put me there.

Eric E

No. Once you're an adult, you should be able to choose your leaders.

Handey Randy

If you also don't allow children, under 21 from joining the military and fighting and dying for you. But it would have to be both.

Pessimistic Dude

I think it shouldn't people who are 18 are smart enough to know how the system works and can research the candidates.

Sarah F

No. It shouldn't be cut. 18 year olds understand taxes. Some of them are just dumb.

Ms. Gump

My son is 17 years old. He is taking a college level politics class this year and probably knows more about this election than many voters - and for the record, he does not agree with my choice of candidates. While I respect your viewpoint, I don't agree with you. I think that if a young adult can fight for their country then they have a right to vote for their Commander in Chief.

No. Kids can go fight a war at 18, they should be able to vote. Maybe we should cut off voting after 60, because I don't think old people make very good decisions.

christian l

We would also have to raise the military age requirements to 21 then as well... If you're mature enough to fight in a war then you're mature enough to vote, "and drink alcohol."

Scouse

If an 18 year old is old enough to die for his country he/she is old enough to vote for the b-stards who are going to have him/her do just that

Skippy The Wondertard

Skippy thinks only people with a college education should be allowed to vote. Or at least they should be forced to take a class on government, economics and business and be able to pass a test before voting.

Maestro

I am more elitist when it comes to education. I would favor a basic civics test before allowing ANYONE of any age to vote. Age doesnÂ´t mean that much. Some of the most dogmatic ignorant folk I have ever encountered are senior citizens. (I am not saying all senior citizens are that way, but I am saying that age doesnÂ´t make you wise.)

In the past literacy tests were used to keep black people from voting. The tests werenÂ´t fair, werenÂ´t graded fairly, and were never meant to be fair. They were meant to keep blacks from voting.

But I would be in favor a test for everyone that asked just basic things about how our government is structured, what it means to be Democrat or Republican (usually), and maybe some questions about the current issues in politics and economics. The test could be constructed to be fair and very basic. If someone couldnÂ´t pass it, they have no business voting.

On the flip side of that though, what if the majority of Americans couldnÂ´t pass the test? What if even say 35% couldnÂ´t pass it? Then that would mean American education has failed those 35%. Those people need to be able to vote in order to improve the country.

buffer

I would agree. I registered people to vote and was surprised at how little people understood the issues. Not to mention the fact that most of them were unfamiliar with the VP's. "Is Palin for Obama or McCain? Duh? I'm going to be 18 on November 1st so I can vote!!"

lootdoodoo

I totally agree with you and the first person here. But I don't think changing the age by three years is going to make that big of a difference honestly. I think that only INFORMED voters should vote, not necessarily an age limit thing. I also think the driving age should be raised to 18.

Justin

im 14 and i understand how all those things work so no

Bryan

I have always had a good grasp of how things work and made my own decisions on who to vote for. However, I was not all that interested in voting at 18. I don't think that has really changed that much. Every election year we hear how young people are going to make the difference in the election. Invariably they do not show up at the polls in the expected numbers. The point I am making here is that I don't know that it really makes a difference. Additionally I was not that much different at 21 than I was at 18, but I left home to join the military at 17 and became an adult at that point.

no, absolutely not!

If one is old enough to die for this country (18 is old enough to enlist in the military), then one should have a voice in choosing the leaders of this country.

Kris

age isn't always synonymous with wisdom. i know plenty of HS seniors you can talk political circles around 50 year olds. if you are old enough to have the government take your tax money....then you are old enough to have a voice in how that money get used!

Rodolfo R

With all honesty, if we think 18 is old enough to go to war, hold a machine gun and take other peoples' lives, then yes, 18 should also be old enough to vote.

Leetamus

I think it should be 16. Young people have their own intuitions and sensibilities distinct from an older person. They think in generalizations keeping concepts simple in a way that's hard to maintain as you age.

The vast majority of voters only understand a small portion of what they are voting on, not just young people.

shecklalonavitch

I think it should be raised to 21, i really didn't know enough at age 18 ok sure i thoought i did, i thought i was a very smart 18 year old, truth is time told me i didn't know anything, i only thought i did, 18 is too oung to have a clear world view, even if you are fairly familiar with politics you haven't had enough life experience to see how it would effect you, kids it seems are maturing later and later.

Rain

im 16 and i do get all of this just fine, so no.

Jeff A

No but I think there should be a test issued before your vote counts. After you vote you should be asked some basic questions about the stance your candidate takes on a few issues, and if you get them wrong your vote should be shredded.

I don't think raising the voting age will do any good, besides how many 18 year olds vote? They typically don't put their money where their mouth is. I think our system will always be flawed.

nest718

i doubt most people know how the tax system works, how the economy works
i doubt most people make it an effort to educate themselves about the issues

so using your argument, you shouldn't like the fact that McCain/Palin supporters are voting

ben_pugsley

No, to be honest it's pretty clear that the majority of Americans have little grasp of politics, no matter their age (not that I can claim it's much better in the UK.) I think politicians should do guest speeches in schools so that the main parties can get their philosophies across.

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