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It might seem like a good idea to some, but others are a little wary of the prospect of those under the age of 18 to be given the vote, specifically for local city issues and initiatives.
Some very well meaning and civic minded parties have been pushing the idea, and the Somerville City Council has taken up the matter in consideration of filing a Home Rule Petition request for just such a change in our election laws.
The idea is to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in municipal elections. It has been cited that many young people in that age range have a strong desire to participate in the voting process. Advocates of the plan say it will foster youth participation in community affairs and serve as a springboard for further involvement in local government.
Those who tend to oppose the idea point to the fact that those under the age of 18 are not yet considered to be adults according to state law, and that traditionally voting has been the exclusive right of adults only, and that legal minors are not sufficiently experienced to make informed decisions about matters presented on the ballot.
This in itself would be a difficult thing to quantify, at best. Simply put, some kids are smarter and more concerned with serious issues than others are. How then do we determine just how qualified the average youthful voter would be to exercise such a right and privilege? And should we even be doing that?
It’s not an easy thing to decide. We love and respect our kids, but is giving them the vote at such a young age the right thing to do? Maybe kids should just be kids for now, enjoying that while they can. Or maybe this very question should be put to a vote. What say you?
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Considering the kids in Parkland, Florida, it’s clear that many teenagers are more intelligent than we give them credit for. We always tend to see teens as self-absorbed and shallow, but I know many of them are not that way at all.
Perhaps a compromise to this issue would be that a teen wanting to register to vote has to pass a test before they can register. Depending on how well they answer their test, they could be eligible to participate in their government. Look at us adults – we are American citizens from birth, and how many of us can even pass a citizenship test?
If teens are really interested in voting, then maybe doing their homework and passing a test would earn them the privilege of participating in our electoral process. Perhaps they will even be more informed than many of us adults are.