Should 17-Year-Olds Be Allowed To Vote?

California lawmaker says it's ok for primaries

The 26th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees voting rights to 18-year-olds. A new proposal introduced in the California Legislature would let the state's teens cast their first ballot at age 17, reports The Sacramento Bee.

Assemblyman Kevin Mullin has authored legislation to amend the state Constitution to allow teens who will be 18 by the time the general election arrives to vote in the primary. The South San Francisco Democrat is seeking to bring California law in line with 20 other states that allow such voters to participate in their primaries or caucuses.

"The goal of this legislation is to increase voter participation," Mullin said in a statement. "Most young people's first contact with politics is in their mandatory high school civics class; this is the perfect time to get them engaged and give them some ownership in the process by getting them to vote in primaries."

Not everyone thinks it's such a great idea, reports The Daily Californian, at UC Berkeley. Assemblyman Tim Donnelly opposes this bill on the grounds that voting responsibility should be reserved for those of legal age.

"I don't think we should allow people to vote until they are at a legally responsible age of 18," said Donnelly, a San Bernardino County Republican.

Via The Sacramento Bee and Daily Californian.

Would you support this proposal?

[gammler]

Why not?

[kirbstomp1]

The last thing we need is more uninformed, uneducated, immature voters deciding our nations domestic and foreign policy.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@kirbstomp1 - Wow. Something I agree with you on.

[Rocker]

Well, you have to draw a line somewhere.

[Slowmo]

@kirbstomp1 exactly.

[MnMking2797]

@kirbstomp1 I'm 15 and I probably know more about how the country works than most Americans.

[harold_lloyd]

Let's go back to 21.

That argument about voting and military service is a crock. Kids don't have the judgement or the perspective to cast a thoughtful ballot.

Or maybe you should have to be a veteran to vote.

[Raptor]

I agree 100%.

[GuitarGuy19]

I agree with your 21 statement. But only allowing veterans to vote? Come on now.

[harold_lloyd]

@GuitarGuy19

The veterans thing was straight from Heinlein, in 'Starship Troopers'.

On the other hand, I don't see why voters shouldn't have to do something to earn their franchise.

One problem we have today is that people feel separate from their government, and that causes all sorts of problems.

How should we fix that?

[Meanie]

The veteran thing is overboard but the 21 years of age is a better idea.

[MnMking2797]

I'm 15 and I probably know more about how the counrty works than most Americans.

[drpeeper]

Wisdom of youth? Well it is California, and those bright young 18 yr old folks in 2008 who voted Obama are the unemployed 22 yr olds now. Go for it Cali. Maybe see if you can get to a trillion in debt soon.

[bsking]

Yeah but thanks to Obama they can go from high school straight to disability checks... smoke weed and suntan all day :-)

[tomincali]

i think it should be raised to 30,by then hopefully they can see things for what they are and not just what the gov has been pushing on them in school.

[seedtick]

What next? If all schools still taught Civics and made it a requirment to graduate, maybe we could even feel better about 18 year olds voting. But, many leave highschool without being able to read or comprehend what they read. The just get pushed along each year and then kicked out the door with a dipolma. Employers are then left to sort them out.

[MnMking2797]

Honestly teenagers should be able to vote after they pass their government class. They'll probably know more than most voters anyway.

[PNWest]

Actually the political parties can allow anyone they want to participate in their primaries. I am opposed to 17 year old voters being allowed to vote in 'real' elections, that is when representatives are elected or ballot measures are decided. 18 is young enough.

[bsking]

No they should actually raise the age of voting as we've seen in the last couple of Elections young inexperienced dummies make poor choices.

[PoliticalSpice]

Nah, The way to prevent dummies from voting is not by raising the age, its by disqualifying republicans from the ballot.

[bsking]

@PoliticalSpice well that's what I've been saying all along the Liberals want to have a dictatorship

[PoliticalSpice]

@bsking No, liberals would oppose this. They support this system. I donot. And I'm still smarting over tim leary!:)

[bsking]

@PoliticalSpice I know I know I got that 1 wrong Tim Leary gave out sugar cubes ;-)

[PoliticalSpice]

@bsking Your killing me here. You don't get it. I have used a variation of that line of debate for decades. Almost always worked. Then you come along with tim leary...

[Raptor]

NO! Have them vote like little clone's like theit parents, I smell evil intent behind this one, elections should be fair and a 17 year old kid does not have a world view to vote, if you you want to allow children to vote why stop at 17, why not 16 or middle school.

[Libertyiskey]

When I was 17 I had a worldview to vote. I started working and paying taxes at 15, I thought I should have been entitled to vote then. I started paying into the system then I thought I deserved to be able to vote when my money was being used. I don't think every 15 year old should be able to vote but if you're working and paying taxes and can prove competence absolutely I think you should have the right to vote.

[Russell797]

If they will vote in the general election, then it makes sense that they participate in the process leading up to that point. All in or all out. One or the other.

[culinary]

"The 26th amendment of the constitution guarantees voting rights to 18 year olds". Period.

[texas_cutie75]

They are kidding , right?!?

[PoliticalSpice]

Vote up was accidental. Twenty other states already allow it.

[texas_cutie75]

@PoliticalSpice
17 year olds can vote in primaries if, and only if, they will be 18 by the time the general election rolls around. Good morning my friend! Happy Monday!

[PoliticalSpice]

@texas_cutie75 Good morning to you!

[stepped_in_it]

Are we talking about voting from Prom king/queen or Homecoming king/queen? That's about as far as the majority can comprehend....let's don't clutter their minds with all the hormones flowing thru their bodies and minds!
Unless, this is just another ploy by one party or the other (I'll guess democrat, since the teens think Obama is kwel) to ply more votes.....then, of course it's ok (was that a flying pig that just flew by my window?)

[standout]

alot of 18 year olds don't know 1 party from the other.or what that parties platform is.

[Libertyiskey]

A lot of thirty, forty, fifty year olds think we only have two parties to choose from.

[standout]

i do know what you are saying.but independents that are in congress still vote with one party.i don't know of any 3rd party candidates winning any election where i have lived.

[Fishbone345]

"alot of 18 year olds don't know 1 party from the other.or what that parties platform is."
And this is a bad thing how exactly? The two party system has brought the US to its knees and the conundrum we find ourselves in currently. For people to go away from them is a GOOD thing.

[PoliticalSpice]

@standout where you live is very different then california. I lived in a city where the republican party was third in voter registration. Where third party held seven elected positions, one on school board, one on city council and five on rent control board.

Besides, twenty other states already do this, and there are plenty of teen who know more about govt and politics then adults...

[standout]

@PoliticalSpice having republicans 3rd in voter registration sounds good.i lived most of my life in east ky.school board and city council were non partison.our county was 75% democrate.the primaries were the main election.very rearly did a republican run for higher offices.now i live in east tn.where it is mostly republican.i have only voted here once.

[doctorj]

Based upon who we have been electing lately, it appears that 4 year-old's are voting.

[commonsense51]

Have you noticed that the Democrats keep pushing to allow illegal immigrants and now younger children to vote? This is because Democrats are mostly elected on the ignorant self centered vote. They want the people who think with their own self interests before the good of the nation.

[Fishbone345]

Have you noticed that the Republicans do the same thing in trying to change times to better coordinate GOP voters, etc... etc...
Both parties play that game bud, neither is innocent of promoting themselves and their continued existence. I say get rid of both, both have brought America to its current state, both should be held responsible.

[commonsense51]

@Fishbone345 I agree with you both have problems but the GOP stands for smaller Government, more freedom to the people, less Government mandates.... they are by far the lessor of two evils.

[Fishbone345]

@commonsense51 "GOP stands for smaller Government, more freedom to the people, less Government mandates."
Really? DOMA, PATRIOT Act, NDAA 12, all legislation brought forth by the GOP. All legislation that mandates peoples lives.

[commonsense51]

@Fishbone345 Patriot act? LOL, tell me how that prevents me from doing anything I want? Tell me how that raises my taxes or forces me to pay for abortions, or buy Obamcare. Do I care if some Government agency wants to taps phones to catch the bad guys who might kill my family? Not at all!!!!!!! If some idiot screws up and listens to my conversation. Gee, what will i do???? The sky is falling, the sky is falling. Get real!

[Fishbone345]

@commonsense51 "Patriot act? LOL, tell me how that prevents me from doing anything I want?"
It gives the Government the right to arrest you on charges of terrorism and detain you indefinitely without trial. A Government you yourself have said you don't trust.
Perhaps you should get real.

[bsking]

I don't think you should be able to vote if you don't own property and pay taxes

[Fishbone345]

My 17yr old pays taxes and has for about a year now. Just sayin. ;)

[bsking]

@Fishbone345 well he must be doing very well then, congrats!

[hwyangel]

I was emancipated at 15 years old, but I still have to agree with you. Since it is about all 17 years olds not just a few. I believe that not all under 18 are ready to graduate school or be on their own.

[zachsquatch]

Plenty of 17 year olds vote, especially the illegals that steal IDs.

[KyleMFb]

Hmm Illegals steal IDs so they can vote and 17 year olds are rushing to cast their ballot...what universe do you live in?? Here some knowledge Illegals don't vote and neither do 17 years olds

[zachsquatch]

@KyleMFb There is plenty of documentation proving that illegals do vote. Please try again.

[KyleMFb]

@zachsquatch oh yeah since voter fraud is such an epidemic....if you can provide me with 10 examples of a 17 year old or illegals voting then ill believe you, but please don't use anything from Fox News I want factual information in black&white that says a 17 year old or a illegal immigrant committed voter fraud.

[Food4thoughts]

In some states you are adult in the eyes of the court when it comes to criminal statutes...if you can be convicted as a felon for life then you should have a say in who is involved in legislation.

[miketost]

Yet another great idea from the state of fruits and nuts.It would be so much easier to by a vote;Hey kid vote for me get a free video game.

[DavidRobertson]

Hell no! In my opinion, our largely ignorant electorate is why we now have the social and economic problems that are destroying our country. If anything, we should be far more restrictive in who we allow to vote, possibly setting a minimum net worth adjusted by inflation, or some other similar standard to establish a responsible electorate.

[Fishbone345]

"possibly setting a minimum net worth adjusted by inflation"
Yah, that's Constitutional. Good call.

[Chromalord]

Kids know more about issues than adults and are far less suggestible to liars. They all have access to the same information as the adults and are less cynical.