# I think Teens should be able to Vote **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 9, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335 "2004-03-09T19:46:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/41 "2004-03-10T03:51:51Z")
> [@bsmooth](#): > > What possible real world knowledge can a child, who can’t hold a full time job, isn’t raising a family, hasn’t had to deal with property tax, financing homes, cars, can’t even legally get a credit card alone, bring to the discussion table other than " I think that sucks lets change it." Yo, **bsmooth** , let’s get off the high horse, here. Suddenly owning a home is a qualifier for intelligent voting? I’m 21: I haven’t yet had a full-time job, haven’t had to deal with property tax, and haven’t financed a house OR car. I have a credit card with a piddly $500 limit I only got for my trip overseas. And yet, I’ve SOMEHOW managed to transcend my financial inexperience and become an intelligent, well-informed voter. You’re discounting a huge percentage of people under 25 with your statement… and also anyone who happens to be dealing with financial instability (or too much financial stability, for that matter). I’d have much more to say if this thread was in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/42 "2004-03-10T03:56:43Z")
P.S. I got a working permit and was paying taxes at age 16, in NY. The argument that 16 year olds don’t participate in the working world simply isn’t factual. ---
**Author:** ![far\_born](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@far\_born](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/far_born)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/43 "2004-03-10T04:09:03Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > The fact is, it’s an _idiotic_ notion for several reason. First, no one who is too young to work and pay taxes should be voting on how those taxes should be distributed. Many 14 year olds can, and some do work and pay taxes, mind you. But the whole tack of this argument reminds me of reasons given as to why people who didn’t own land weren’t allowed to vote. Perhaps you should take your argument a step further and propose that votes should be distributed in accordance to the amount of dollars you pay in taxes. Or maybe a minimun amount of taxes should be paid in order to vote. > [@](#): > > Second, there’s a good reason why we don’t consider 14 year olds to be legal adults - because we recognize that they’ve still got a lot of learnin’ to do. They need to grow emotionally and intellectually before they are ready to take full responsibility for their actions. I would like to know specifically what emotional and intellectual growth is required to vote. Can you quantify it in any way, or is it just some nebulous idea we’re supposed to take on faith? Furthermore, if you can state it objectively, can you do it in such a way that it wouldn’t disenfranchise many voters over 18? Now if it is age we are using to discriminate rather than ability, perhaps we should prohibit those over 80 from voting. It wouldn’t surprise me if they on the whole exhibited a high rate of senility, dementia, and other disorders that impair their thinking. That is why we send them to nursing homes after all. Sure there are some people who still have all their wits at 80, but you know, we have draw the line somewhere right? What’s next letting 100 year olds vote? > [@](#): > > The day 14 year olds can quit school and work full time, get married, have children, be tried in adult court for every crime, and be fully liable in civil court for their actions is the day that we should be discussing whether or not they should have the vote. Then I suppose you should be posting in another thread? I’m not trying to be mean, but you should phrase this argument in a way that encourages debate if indeed you do intend to debate. It seems to me you are saying if we grant them this right then they should take on all the responsibilities of adulthood. I don’t think you’ve made a cohesive argument for this position yet. For example many minors do get married and have jobs. I’m not sure why you associate those activities with voting though anyway. ---
**Author:** ![bsmooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9adbd/32.png) [@bsmooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bsmooth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/44 "2004-03-10T04:19:24Z")
> [@NightRabbit](#): > > Yo, **bsmooth** , let’s get off the high horse, here. Suddenly owning a home is a qualifier for intelligent voting? I’m 21: I haven’t yet had a full-time job, haven’t had to deal with property tax, and haven’t financed a house OR car. I have a credit card with a piddly $500 limit I only got for my trip overseas. And yet, I’ve SOMEHOW managed to transcend my financial inexperience and become an intelligent, well-informed voter. You’re discounting a huge percentage of people under 25 with your statement… and also anyone who happens to be dealing with financial instability (or too much financial stability, for that matter). I’d have much more to say if this thread was in the Pit. Lets remember where this idea is being entertained. California, where I live. On the 2nd of March we not only had to decide a presidential candidate, and who was going to run off against Barbara Boxer, but we had to decide the fate of 4 propositions that would adversly affect how we were taxed, how much easier it would be to increase taxes by lower the number of votes from 2/3 to majority. This could have made it easier for the legislation to get rid of Prop 13 which deals with property tax. As it is our taxes are going to have to go up. And due to the fact that here if your under 18 you are severly limited on the number of hours you can work, so tax increases don’t really hit home. Just cause you understand what is being said, doesn’t mean you can apply it the same way someone who has a lot more adult responsibilities can. If you don’t own a home taxes dont matter If you dont own a car taxes dont matter If you dont need a full time job to survive taxes dont matter as much. And to those of you who keep bringing up the whole driving thing, which age group is statistically more dangerous on the road, thats right 16-25. Why, because they haven’t matured, lack real world experience, and are easily distracted by their peers and surroundings. Yet some people think we should give them the right to vote a whole 2 years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/45 "2004-03-10T04:45:47Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Let’s get some perspective on this: If a Democratic Senator wants to enfranchise 14 year olds, there’s only one reason for it - because he thinks that these kids will mostly vote for Democrats. If the Democratic Party is putting up candidates who advance the interests of 14 year olds, then good for them. It’s about time. > [@](#): > > The fact is, it’s an _idiotic_ notion for several reason. First, no one who is too young to work and pay taxes should be voting on how those taxes should be distributed. They pay sales taxes on everything they buy, and minors who are able to work (16 year olds, and 15 year olds with work permits, IIRC) pay income tax. > [@](#): > > Second, there’s a good reason why we don’t consider 14 year olds to be legal adults - because we recognize that they’ve still got a lot of learnin’ to do. They need to grow emotionally and intellectually before they are ready to take full responsibility for their actions. That’s a respectable position, though I disagree with it, but the problem is it isn’t applied consistently. Teenagers, such as the Spokane boy I mentioned before, _are_ required to take full legal responsibility for their actions in many cases. > [@](#): > > The day 14 year olds can quit school and work full time, get married, have children, be tried in adult court for every crime, and be fully liable in civil court for their actions is the day that we should be discussing whether or not they should have the vote. How about this: The day 14 year olds are exempt from all taxes and can’t be tried in adult court for any crime is the day we can honestly say they shouldn’t have the vote. (BTW: Fourteen year olds [can get married](http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/teen_marriage_laws/index.shtml) in many states, with parental consent.) ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/46 "2004-03-10T04:47:28Z")
> [@bsmooth](#): > > And to those of you who keep bringing up the whole driving thing, which age group is statistically more dangerous on the road, thats right 16-25. Actually, elderly drivers are as dangerous as young drivers, in terms of accidents per mile driven. They only cause fewer accidents because they do less driving. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/47 "2004-03-10T04:57:26Z")
I am curious why you suggest that the voteing age should be 16. You are not 16, are you? Hell, I will be the first to admit that many sixteen year olds are certainly qualified to vote. I even had the pleasure of “meeting” a 13 year old girl from Norway who is clearly more qualified to vote than many seniors in Florida. Also if Ms. Spears becomes President, can I be her intern? ---
**Author:** ![bsmooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9adbd/32.png) [@bsmooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bsmooth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/48 "2004-03-10T05:28:41Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > Actually, elderly drivers are as dangerous as young drivers, in terms of accidents per mile driven. They only cause fewer accidents because they do less driving. and wasn’t it the elderly voters who got confused in Florida during the 2000 election. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/49 "2004-03-10T05:32:52Z")
> [@far\_born](#): > > From my perspective asking the question “why should group x be allowed to vote?” is anti-democratic. The question should be “Why should group x be denied their right to vote?” > > It seems to me that the principles of a democratic society should be based on voting as a fundamental right exercised by individuals upon their government not a priviledge granted by the government to the citizens it sees fit to bestow it upon. That’s good answer, and a good way of looking at it. So, how do **you** draw the line? From some of your other posts, it seems you are implying that there should be no age limits to voting. In most states, there are no restrictions on what an 18 yr old can do, other than drink alcohol. Igoring the whole drinking question for the time being, would you lower the age of other key decision making responsibilities as well? If not, why not? > [@](#): > > Going to a voting machine and making a decision is certainly less complex than passing a driving test. The mechanics of it are not in question. Indeed if they were, the result of this debate would be inconsequential. I’m not sure if that was aimed at me, but I certainly never made that statement. > [@](#): > > Ultimately, I don’t think our society would change that significantly by lowering the voting age by two years. The fact the our society might change, or not, is irrelevant. If it’s the right thing to do, it’s the right thing to do. Period. I don’t see that as either an argument for or against changing the voting age. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/50 "2004-03-10T06:01:44Z")
> [@bsmooth](#): > > Lets remember where this idea is being entertained. California, where I live. California is only one place where this is being considered. Other places have gone much further then this has gone so far in California. You wont find a logical reason in setting the bar at 18 because it isn’t a logical position. It’s a compromise. Every attempt to find some logic behind it will suggest giving the vote to some under and removing it from some older. Personally I would like to have some logical or ethical reason to distribute the ability to vote despite such difficulties. Allowing some younger people to acquire the right to vote somehow while doling it out to everyone at age 18. The problem with that is that it is difficult and any solution would be complicated. Simply lowering the age would be the easy way out. I’m not afraid of complexity. ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/51 "2004-03-10T07:24:29Z")
In my book, anyone who can’t sign a legally binding contract shouldn’t be able to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/52 "2004-03-10T15:08:49Z")
> [@wmulax93](#): > > Nope, no retraction, but a clarification is due. I used school board elections for a reason: They are local and therefore more likely to attract young voters; the kids could enact a very visible change in their own community. > > As far as the power of one school board member goes: Michael Moore ran for his school board right after he graduated high school, got enough friends together to support him, and got elected. His agenda was to have a teacher that he didn’t like fired. He pretty much annoyed the crap out of the rest of the board until they caved on the condition that he quit after firing the teacher. [cite](http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800064216&cf=biog&intl=us) > > Local elections, at least here in Michigan, often have less than 500 people turn out. A popular friend of high schoolers could easily get the votes to gain the majority there. This is why I chose this example. Senatorial elections are so spread out that one small group would have a hard time changing the result; thus, your idea that this is extendable to other groups (25 year olds, Catholics, etc.) doesn’t hold water in my opinion. > > Does that make sense? I’m not trying to be snarky, I just want to make sure my point is clear. I knew Michael Moore was going to enter into this somewhere. But my point still stands, that if those who either oppose a high schooler on the school board or who support another candidate don’t turn out to vote then the high schooler deserves to win. Voter apathy and its potential results are not justifications for denying suffrage. And note that on his own Moore could not fire the teacher. He did not have that power. He was able to persuade the rest of the board to go along with him, but he could have done that without holding elective office. Again, not a justification for denying suffrage. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/53 "2004-03-10T15:28:15Z")
> [@far\_born](#): > > “children” also face more prohibitive laws than adults. They are affected by the decisions of government just like anyone else. > What standing do you have to deny anyone the right to vote? I’m an adult citizen who does not rely on my parents for subsistence, who has completed a basic course of education (and advanced courses, for that matter), who looks back on my own time as a know-it-all teenager and realizes that I did not know it all, who has full and complete legal responsibility for my own actions, and who has long ago attained the age at which the average person can reasonably be expected to make informed, rational decisions about who to vote for. That’s what gives me the right to have my say in laws that are meant to protect children from the big bad world out there. > [@Mr 2001](#): > > Ever consider that many “children” don’t want all those legal protections? I don’t care. There are many children who don’t want to go to school or eat their veggies. Many don’t want to listen to their parents. For hundreds of years, common law has held that children, in varying degrees at various ages, don’t have the capacity to be held responsible for their actions. Since so many kids are knuckleheads, adults have claimed the responsibility to protect them in various ways. The good news is that children grow out of being knuckleheads… although some remain doofuses for most of their adult life. What proponents of younger voting ages seem to be banking on is that there are _some_ children who are politically aware. Well, good for them. If they wait two years, they’ll be a valuable addition to society. But political awareness does not confer rights. It is a common tenet that rights bring responsibilities. I agree. I can’t stand adults who enjoy the benefits of a free society and complain about voting or jury duty. But people under the age of 18, with very few exceptions, have never had to make a life for themselves, have not completed a basic course of education, and are still pretty early in the process of growing up (many still undergoing puberty, ferchrissakes). These people should not have the burden of full legal responsibility for their actions. The right to vote, and for that matter, hold office, should be limited to those who are legally expected to look out for themselves. One naturally follows the other. ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/54 "2004-03-10T16:00:05Z")
> [@TitoBenito](#): > > In my book, anyone who can’t sign a legally binding contract shouldn’t be able to vote. I agree with this. I’m also a bit wary about letting children engage in democracy when, to be fair, they don’t live in anything approaching that. My household is closer to a military dictatorship than a democracy for my kids, and will be so long as I bear the ultimate responsibility for them financially. Of course, while I like to think of my wife and I as benevolent dictators, my kids don’t get a ‘vote’ when deciding family issues. Why then, would I want them to have a vote in city, county, or national issues? Now, something might be said for ‘hardship’ voting rights for children that are in unique situations, or are heads of their households…but these are the exception, not the rule. ---
**Author:** ![sghoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@sghoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sghoul)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/55 "2004-03-10T16:38:44Z")
We already have too many people who vote without being well informed, do we need to add more? For every 16 year old, who will vote using forethought, and well thought out reasons, there are 20 who will either not bother, or just do what their parents tell them (thus giving parents more effective votes than non-parents), or just go for whomever MTV/Teen Nick endorse. And before you say anything, I think many “adults” vote stupidly as well. The number of people I know who vote based purely on party or because they simply 'like" one person better than the other (no real reasons) makes me sick. I think the voting process needs to be harder, not easier. It would help weed out some of the people who don’t actually realize what they are doing. ---
**Author:** ![far\_born](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@far\_born](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/far_born)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/56 "2004-03-10T20:47:46Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > That’s good answer, and a good way of looking at it. So, how do **you** draw the line? From some of your other posts, it seems you are implying that there should be no age limits to voting. In most states, there are no restrictions on what an 18 yr old can do, other than drink alcohol. Igoring the whole drinking question for the time being, would you lower the age of other key decision making responsibilities as well? If not, why not? Well I don’t want to be distracted by the other responsibilities, but I will try to address the situation as a whole. Overall, I would characterize the situation of minors as living in a dictatorship. Now, it is a benevolent dictatorship if there ever was one, yet its benevolence is in many ways an illusion and a truly benevolent dictatorship is well nigh impossible in my eyes. Minors do not have rights per se, rather they have privileges granted by powers outside of themselves when they see fit. I find this to be fundamentally wrong. The only way they can truly have rights is if they can legitimize the government which recognizes them. Our laws concerning children are on the surface made to protect them, but really what they represent are the preferences of adults who incidentally often wish to protect them. It is a subtle difference but highly important to me. Government, IMO, should seek legitimacy from all of those who it expects to respect its authority. IOW, there has to be a really outstanding reason which threatens the very viability of the democracy in order to deny anyone their right to participate. It is my hope that when minors can participate, that the laws regarding them, the decision makers who influence their lives, and their rights under the law will begin to reflect their voice. Now, the other age limits may not change. The drinking age is still 21 even though 18 year olds have the right to vote. But at least they will have the fundamental right to legitimize the government that holds authority over them. I’m not in a big hurry to lower or raise any other age limits, but I would be interested in seeing how much the participation of those who are actually affected by said laws would affect them. My prediction is that most age limits would stay more or less the same, but local issues like teen curfews, school boards and the like might be affected significantly. I’m not sure at this point how low I would like to see the voting age lowered. 16 is a no-brainer to me. 14 and below presents some practical issues that I haven’t worked out yet, but I’m not opposed in principle. 16 I think would be a good place to start. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/57 "2004-03-10T20:52:07Z")
In a nation where about half of the franchised population DOESN’T vote, I don’t see why people are all riled up about teenagers who WANT TO. We need more people who want to vote! I think we should be encouraging voting among young people, not complaining that they don’t have “real world experience”. That’s a ridiculous means of deciding who votes, anyway. Since I’m not gay or married, my opinion on gay marriage doesn’t matter? Pshaw I say. Besides, how many teenagers are going to be motivated to vote for a tax bill that doesn’t affect them, anyway? I’d guess not many. It’s crazy to think that the teenage voice is going to screw up all the tax-related referendums. I’d be willing to bet that they’d be more oriented to vote on larger issues that they actually care about. Youngsters can be very idealistic about changing the world… I think this would be a good influence on democracy, and a counterbalance to all you jaded non-voting schmucks whining about how your vote “doesn’t count”. ---
**Author:** ![far\_born](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@far\_born](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/far_born)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/58 "2004-03-10T21:04:17Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m an adult citizen who does not rely on my parents for subsistence, who has completed a basic course of education (and advanced courses, for that matter), who looks back on my own time as a know-it-all teenager and realizes that I did not know it all, who has full and complete legal responsibility for my own actions, and who has long ago attained the age at which the average person can reasonably be expected to make informed, rational decisions about who to vote for. That’s what gives me the right to have my say in laws that are meant to protect children from the big bad world out there. Funny, I don’t see what dangers that voting presents to children or minors. It’s hardly an overwhelming responsibility either since they don’t have to vote if they don’t want to. Are you trying to protect them or deny them their right vote? Those are different issues. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/59 "2004-03-10T21:09:51Z")
In response to the actual Question, that being “one **good** reason” not to let young 'uns vote, as opposed to “the reason why it has happened that” they aren’t, I have one actual reason: Under the age of eighteen, under current law, you are still a dependent and probably have no way to support yourself. As such, if we allowed persons under the age of eighteen to vote, it is conceivable that some sort of duress by the parents could become involved and the youth would be giving his parents vote instead of his own. Thus, the numbers would be skewed from what the public actually believed and the middle-aged, parent segment of society would gain more power in government. I do think that one could make an argument that children between the ages of 12 and 15 should be allowed to vote–from what I have been able to determine almost all humans fully turn off their brain in highschool. Which was interesting going to a joint middle and high school. All of the student government members from the middle school were better speakers and made far better points than all of the high-schoolers. ---
**Author:** ![far\_born](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@far\_born](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/far_born)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335/60 "2004-03-10T21:11:06Z")
> [@sghoul](#): > > We already have too many people who vote without being well informed, do we need to add more? For every 16 year old, who will vote using forethought, and well thought out reasons, there are 20 who will either not bother, or just do what their parents tell them (thus giving parents more effective votes than non-parents), or just go for whomever MTV/Teen Nick endorse. Are you going to support that claim or do you expect us to take it on faith? > [@](#): > > It would help weed out some of the people who don’t actually realize what they are doing. IMO a democracy should never concern itself with “weeding out” voters. A technocracy perhaps, but not a democracy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-teens-should-be-able-to-vote/233335.md?page=4)