- Aug 2, 2001
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"...The street-side back-and-forth typifies a new debate that is raising both hope and eyebrows among teens, parents, politicians, and activists from here to Washington and beyond US borders. The question: Should kids as young as 14 be able to vote?
Four California legislators proposed just that in the Golden State this week, with the twist that 14- and 15-year-olds would get only a one-quarter vote and 16- and 17-year-olds would get one-half....The idea is being touted as a kind of electoral apprenticeship known as "Training Wheels for Citizenship."...
The idea parallels a burgeoning youth-vote movement both in the US and abroad. Some American states now allow voting at 17, Britain has a formal proposal in Parliament this week to lower the age the age to 16, and Germany is considering giving families as many votes as there are family members. Parts of Germany and Austria allow voting at 16, and Israel has lowered its voting age to 17...."
The two main contentions of this debate is whether young adults are competent enough to handle voting responsibilty. Also, the bill proposes to treat them as "fractional" voters. Giventhe history of America (and what fractional people represent) is this a good idea?
"...The street-side back-and-forth typifies a new debate that is raising both hope and eyebrows among teens, parents, politicians, and activists from here to Washington and beyond US borders. The question: Should kids as young as 14 be able to vote?
Four California legislators proposed just that in the Golden State this week, with the twist that 14- and 15-year-olds would get only a one-quarter vote and 16- and 17-year-olds would get one-half....The idea is being touted as a kind of electoral apprenticeship known as "Training Wheels for Citizenship."...
The idea parallels a burgeoning youth-vote movement both in the US and abroad. Some American states now allow voting at 17, Britain has a formal proposal in Parliament this week to lower the age the age to 16, and Germany is considering giving families as many votes as there are family members. Parts of Germany and Austria allow voting at 16, and Israel has lowered its voting age to 17...."
The two main contentions of this debate is whether young adults are competent enough to handle voting responsibilty. Also, the bill proposes to treat them as "fractional" voters. Giventhe history of America (and what fractional people represent) is this a good idea?
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