# Perhaps we should raise the voting age, uh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 14, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550 "2020-11-14T03:04:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/21 "2020-11-14T16:41:42Z")
“You don’t get to vote when you’re 94 years old. You don’t get to order for the table when you’re about to leave the restaurant.” -John Mulaney, in his recent SNL monologue ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/22 "2020-11-14T16:51:14Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I have thought about this too and I sorta like not having old people be able to fuck with the future they do not have to live in After Brexit I have come to believe that the votes of the younger voters (IDK - 30? 40?) have a higher weighting. I’m 61 and I’ve recognized that it hasn’t been my planet for the last 10 or 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/23 "2020-11-14T17:17:11Z")
Maybe we should use Celebrity Death Pool scoring rules to assign vote value. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/24 "2020-11-14T17:17:53Z")
In for weighted voting. Heavier weighting to the youngest among us. ---
**Author:** ![Forever77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/74df32/32.png) [@Forever77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forever77)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/25 "2020-11-14T17:22:15Z")
Lots of interesting comments … mostly pro-under 41 for sure. This last election did have more of the younger ages under 25 voting which added into the entire vote never has made a difference in the past. You know what I mean if all of the under 25 that voted had voted for the loser (which in this case was Trump) the loser still would not have won. Not sure how the ages stacked up in this election. It’s not going to happen anyway … sorry I brought it up. I did notice a little disregard for respect for elders in this thread however and it seems to be a trend evey where. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/26 "2020-11-14T17:24:21Z")
I think everyone should be disenfranchised. Except me; I would be the only person allowed to vote. This would vastly improve the quality of politics in this country because all the people leading the country would be chosen by an informed electorate using reason and wisdom. At least by my standards for those terms and my standards would be the only ones that mattered. We would have a perfect democracy in which all of the voters approve of the outcome of every election. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/27 "2020-11-14T17:26:53Z")
> [@Forever77](#): > > I did notice a little disregard for respect for elders in this thread however and it seems to be a trend evey where. I noticed a big lack of respect for younger people in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/28 "2020-11-14T17:33:49Z")
> [@Forever77](#): > > I did notice a little disregard for respect for elders in this thread however and it seems to be a trend evey where. I did look very carefully, but it appears that respect is not one of the rights automatically granted in the constitution. I guess the elders are going to have to do something to earn it instead. Until then… ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/29 "2020-11-14T17:51:52Z")
The elders have brought us to a point in time where the nation’s democracy is seriously at risk. And they are still resisting the kinds of changes that will protect it. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/30 "2020-11-14T18:09:46Z")
I’d rather we take away the right to vote from anyone over 41. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/31 "2020-11-14T18:09:56Z")
> [@Forever77](#): > > Lots of interesting comments … mostly pro-under 41 for sure. This last election did have more of the younger ages under 25 voting which added into the entire vote never has made a difference in the past. > > You know what I mean if all of the under 25 that voted had voted for the loser (which in this case was Trump) the loser still would not have won. Not sure how the ages stacked up in this election. Can you, by any chance, show your math? ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/32 "2020-11-14T18:17:27Z")
I’m OK with increasing the voting age to 41 IF: • you have to be at least 41 to sign up for Selective Service/get drafted. • you have to be at least 41 to pay taxes. • you have to be at least 41 to drop out of school. > [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > The elders have brought us to a point in time where the nation’s democracy is seriously at risk. And they are still resisting the kinds of changes that will protect it. Nope. Joe Biden had a 27-point lead among seniors going into the election. If you want to target those resisting change, first drop the stereotypes. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/33 "2020-11-14T18:25:34Z")
Yeah, the olds came around this year, after supporting Donald Trump in 2016. The new problematic group of “seniors” is now Gen X. I’m not quite ready to stop my stereotyping until I see enduring evidence of my fellow seniors recognizing the systemic problems the country is facing. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/34 "2020-11-14T19:26:19Z")
When I first saw this thread I thought it had to be a joke. But I can see the OP is serious. So to address that directly first, no, the voting age should not be raised because: 1 - People over 41 are not necessarily wiser. If you want only wise people to vote, then institute a wisdom test (I don’t think this is a good idea either) 2 - People under 41 have to deal with the consequences of an election for longer than people over 41 so they should have a say. However, what this OP really tells me is: “If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.” - David Frum It is clear that Republicans fear democracy. There is really not much of reason they would consistently try to prevent those who usually vote again them from voting. Perhaps should Republicans should consider modernize their ideas just a little and prove David Frum wrong? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/35 "2020-11-14T19:33:24Z")
Respect is earned. What percentage of teenagers have earned respect? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/36 "2020-11-14T19:34:40Z")
Since when was respect a requirement to vote? I’ll be honest, there’s a metric fuckload of seniors I have no respect for. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/37 "2020-11-14T19:36:05Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > What percentage of teenagers have earned respect? So now everyone under 41 is a teenager? Get off my lawn. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/38 "2020-11-14T19:41:06Z")
Please read the post to which I was responded. He noticed a lack of respect for younger people. That’s to be expected, since most of them don’t have the life experience to have earned respect. 🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/39 "2020-11-14T19:51:35Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Respect is earned. What percentage of teenagers have earned respect? And who’s fault is that? Here is a photograph of the various memorabilia my wife collected when my then-14yo daughter was nominated for Jr Volunteer of the Year by the [San Antonio Food Bank](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/26/magazine/coronavirus-san-antonio-unemployment-jobs.html) for the 2015 United Way’s South Texas Volunteers of the Year Awards (VOYA) dinner: [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV86BOYS-GNbm5V_gQGc-rTXxZazcn_24iFJZ1Hjhv0nzzp0eEGyym_Pueq1m5eBHd-PdBFbPhWD7rBkVx_pAs5RdkCgDNGB3pRaF7KJXDnmUqMeL_vw=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/WqPR4UevMU6JktR8A) When she graduated from middle school a year later, age 15, the school literally _created an award for her_: [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV855U7X1srGHOs586bWOWFlIr5MPhLGUPkwwbQzWl4KJSN_NgRmFVVGihp-udMZ-BeIxX1phaRQF9CsoMH1re8IoR1DPOdM9lvvFnQbMxMASBVF5QxE=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/EUaj3NrRpd3oyxrC6) When she was 13, to earn money for a Doctor Who convention, she made soaps, branded them ‘Sophia’s Scentsations’, and then went door to door selling them, eventually netting $70. It’s not that Sophia’s specially driven, @D_Anconia, it’s just that we made special concerns to mold her into a _citizen_ and not just a _teenager_ or whatever you have in mind as to be so dismissive. I would have had zero problem with this 16yo voting. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550/40 "2020-11-14T19:54:44Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Please read the post to which I was responded. He noticed a lack of respect for younger people. That’s to be expected, since most of them don’t have the life experience to have earned respect. 🤷‍♂️ Part of my problem with the new board is that quotes seem to get stripped off, even after you choose to include it (which you shouldn’t have to choose in the first place). Maybe there’s a setting for this. I dunno. But it makes following discussions like this very annoying and difficult. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-we-should-raise-the-voting-age-uh/925550.md?page=3)