With the November 2020 election coming up, political discourse now consumes many conversations. Even those who can’t legally vote in this election (such as myself and most other high school students) have strong opinions and are fighting to be heard. The same debate arises before almost every election: Should we amend the constitution to allow people who are 16 years of age or older to vote?
Voter turnout (or lack thereof) was a massive issue in the 2016 election. Some even argue that the election’s results were caused in part by the relatively small number of voters. Lowering the voting age to 16 would increase the voting population significantly, especially since most 16- and 17-year-olds are currently studying or have recently studied the American government. Tacoma Park, Maryland became the first city in the country to lower their voting age in 2013. Lo and behold, turnout rates in the 16-17 age group were the highest out of any demographic. The same thing occurred in Hyattsville, Maryland, with the same results. It is entirely possible, and even likely, that people under the age of 18 would whole-heartedly embrace their right to vote.
It should also be brought to the table that 16 year olds can work, and must pay taxes, but cannot vote. The American Revolution was started by patriots who often rallied behind the idea of “No taxation without representation,” meaning people shouldn’t be taxed unless they are allowed to participate in democracy. The taxation of 16- and 17-year-old voters directly contradicts this concept. In 2011, working minors paid over $730 million in income taxes, and with the growth of the younger population, that number continues to rise as the years pass. They are a group too valuable to lose income tax from, so the only other option is to allow them to vote. If they’re giving the government their hard-earned money, they deserve a say in how that money gets spent.
Many older citizens seem reluctant to give them this right, using the popular argument that high schoolers aren’t educated enough to vote. However, by the age of 16, most high schoolers have taken at least one civics class and often understand the inner-workings of the government better than most adults. Refer, perhaps, to the popular videos where an interviewer asks adults seemingly basic questions about the government, such as “What are the three branches of the US government?” or “How many senators are there?” In fact, according to an Annenberg Public Policy survey, only about a third of adults can answer questions like these. However, if those same reporters were to walk into a high school and ask the first Sophomore or Junior they see, the results would be very different. If we’re using education level to decide who can vote (already based in fairly dubious morality and legality), then it’s clear that 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to vote.
While it’s going to be a lot of work to get there, it’s time to amend the constitution to lower the voting age to 16. This effort will be beneficial in the long run, as it will improve voter turnouts, making election results better represent what the people want. It will also allow an integral and politically aware group of people into the voting population, where they deserve to be.
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