Introduction:

         How many teenagers in America have a job? How much of their money earned from that job is eaten by a tax that they don’t have the right to oppose against? Lowering the voting age would make our society more inclusive to different opinions, especially considering the decisions made during an election, and how those decisions affect teenagers. Prohibiting people below the age of 18 from voting is a huge portion of people whose voices and opinions that just aren’t being heard.

Analysis:

         Teenagers have a better understanding nowadays on what is going on in the world around them whether that knowledge comes from school, news channels, social media, parents, or their jobs; they’re involved in some aspect. In fact, one could argue that teenagers are more involved online than any other age group. Teenagers are kept up to date on everything that spreads on social media which makes them more informed than ever on current issues globally. According to results of a voting election located at Takoma Park, Maryland in 2013, when the voting age was lowered to 16, four times as many people under 18 participated in the election than voters over the age of 18. Inevitably, lowering the voting age does contain its flaws. The younger population of the U.S. may not be exposed to politics as often as the average adult. In the article, “Voting at 16: Turnout and the quality of vote choice,” it details the many criticisms that the idea of lowering the voting age frequently receives. Some would argue that teenagers lack the motivation to partake in elections, or that they lack the political knowledge to do so efficiently and with “good judgement”. However, the article also mentions a particular data result collected from Austria, stating that its citizens under the age of 16 made choices and judgement similar to the level of expertise as older voters. The youth of the United States of America truly care about the state of the country, regardless of how old they are. Despite being deemed mature enough to be sent to juvenile detention centers and be testified in criminal court, the younger age cohort of our country has no vote or decision-making capabilities in the creation of laws they are obligated to follow.

Conclusion:

         If a 16-year-old can legally work eight hour shifts consistently to support their family, why aren’t they granted access to voting? Even though some laws are put in place to prevent crime, and should remain that way, everyone deserves a voice regardless of their age. With that being stated, teenagers deserve the chance to speak up about what they want for their country.​​