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Arguments Against Lowering Voting Age

The document discusses the argument for lowering the voting age to 16. It presents two main reasons against this: 1) 16-year-olds are too immature to vote, as they are easily swayed by popularity and peer pressure rather than properly evaluating candidates; and 2) 16-year-olds lack an understanding of the responsibility of voting, which has serious implications for a country's well-being, as shown by a survey where 16-year-olds voted based on popularity rather than candidate positions. Overall, the document concludes the voting age should remain at 18, as 16-year-olds are not mature enough to handle the responsibility of voting.

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Vishnu Ramankutty
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40 views2 pages

Arguments Against Lowering Voting Age

The document discusses the argument for lowering the voting age to 16. It presents two main reasons against this: 1) 16-year-olds are too immature to vote, as they are easily swayed by popularity and peer pressure rather than properly evaluating candidates; and 2) 16-year-olds lack an understanding of the responsibility of voting, which has serious implications for a country's well-being, as shown by a survey where 16-year-olds voted based on popularity rather than candidate positions. Overall, the document concludes the voting age should remain at 18, as 16-year-olds are not mature enough to handle the responsibility of voting.

Uploaded by

Vishnu Ramankutty
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Ramankutty 1

Vishnu Ramankutty 19 February 2013 Period 3 English Honors II

Retrospective View on Lowering the Voting Age

According to the 24th amendment of the constitution, The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress. This amendment pertains to anyone of 18 years old and above. The 24th amendment came about from soldiers who had returned from deployment in Vietnam. The veterans were beleaguered. Before January 23 1964, the voting age was 21. The veterans didnt agree with this. The veterans wanted it to be lowered to 18. The veterans argument came about from the conception that if one is old enough to fight in a war then one is old enough to vote. Voting is like a double edged sword as it is extremely useful and also extremely dangerous. State legislators are discussing whether the voting age should be lowered from 18 to 16. This is not a practical idea. The voting age should not be dropped because 16 year olds are too immature to vote and 16 year olds lack understanding on the responsibility of casting a vote. Firstly, the voting age should not be dropped to 16 because 16 year olds are too immature to vote. 16 year old are quick to choose the popular thing. Pure examples can be the spread of the word swag or YOLO. Most 16 year olds do not even know the significance of the terms. 16 year olds just like to be accepted. They want to be part of the modern times, even if

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what is accepted is socially and morally wrong. 16 year olds are too immature as if they were to vote, they would not properly evaluate each candidate but instead vote for the popular candidate. Many baneful decisions for the condition of the country would be made. Thus, the voting age should not be dropped to 16. Nevertheless, the voting age should not be dropped to 16 because 16 year olds lack understanding on the responsibility of casting a vote. Voting is a tremendous responsibility as voting pertains to the well-being of the state. The rancid taste and smell of a painful decision would cause the sound of people sighing all over the country because of poor decisions being made. In 2011, CNN created a survey which evaluated the presidential candidate choice for 2012. The survey asked 16 year old which candidate they would choose if possible. 90% of 16 year old chose Obama. The following question accompanied in the survey asked the motivation behind choosing the candidate. 95% said that they chose the candidate because it was the popular, trite choice. This is a prime example why 16 year olds do not understand the responsibility of casting a vote. A vote is a decision, which impacts the whole country in ways of how it chooses what occurs in the country. Most 16 year olds dont know the motifs behind presidential candidates or the motifs of the political parties. I being 16, wanted Obama to win because my friends and family supported him. Truth was, I did not know the motifs behind the Democratic Party. Concluding, the voting age should not be dropped 16 because 16 year olds are too immature to vote and 16 year olds lack understanding on the responsibility of casting a vote. The wellbeing of a country is dependent on the decisions made in the country. Do you know what is the right decision for the country?

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