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  • TUESDAY MARCH 9 2004 8:16 PM

California Proposes In-State Voting Age of 14

Submitted by s5

Edited by s5

California might amend its constitution to allow teenagers older than 14 to vote in state elections. Teens between 14 and 16 would be counted as 1/4 of a vote, and teens between 16 and 18 would be counted as 1/2.

I'm intrigued by the idea, and I think it would help to foster a new generation of healthy participation in the democratic process. Also, it would be especially interesting to see how teens would vote on their own education.

Opponents claim, however, that teens would be too easily duped by politicians.

Said Assemblyman Ray Haynes: "There's a reason why 14-year-olds and 16-year-olds don't vote. They are not adults. They are not mature enough. They are easily deceived by political charlatans."



I disagree. If we're worried about protecting the state from an easily tricked electorate, there are plenty of voters above the age of 18 to consider excluding.

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Comments
Gwendolyn

Gwendolyn

SUICIDEGIRL

Indiana, USA

MAR 09, 2004 08:18 PM

I couldn't make ANY good decisions when I was 16, let alone 14, and let alone a decision as important as that.

Mullen

Mullen

San Diego, CA
April 2003

MAR 09, 2004 08:24 PM

This is a horrible idea as Gwendolyn put it perfectly.
And the only reason a Democrat put this idea forward is they can sweet talk all the kids, who don't know shit about the real world, into thinking their Socialist Utopian Dream World might work.

nigraquercus

nigraquercus

I'm lost
November 2003

MAR 09, 2004 08:30 PM

Gwendolyn said:
I couldn't make ANY good decisions when I was 16, let alone 14, and let alone a decision as important as that.



sure. probably me neither (at 14). regardless, some might. and whats the worst that could happen: ignorant blind votes? i dont think age is the problem.

Olivia

Olivia

STAFF

Oakland, CA

MAR 09, 2004 08:34 PM

i think it's a great idea. kids live in the world and are affected by law. as soon as they can reason they should be encouraged to investigate their options and vote. i think lowering the voting age would help to give better representation to everyone in america.

[Edited on Mar 09, 2004 8:34PM]

Jeff_Fries

Jeff_Fries

Humptulips, WA
September 2003

MAR 09, 2004 08:34 PM

For some reason, and maybe it's just me, but in hindsight I just didn't trust my judgement as a student in high school. It was only when I got out of high school that I began to feel like my opinions had any real world weight, because I was forced to form them in the real world, i.e. junior college.

This is not an inherently bad idea, but it seems kind of pointless to me.

s5

s5

STAFF

San Francisco, CA

MAR 09, 2004 08:38 PM

Mullen said:
This is a horrible idea as Gwendolyn put it perfectly.
And the only reason a Democrat put this idea forward is they can sweet talk all the kids, who don't know shit about the real world, into thinking their Socialist Utopian Dream World might work.



oh god. perhaps you can argue the idea on its merits or lack of merits without blaming "socialism" or "the eevvvil democrats"?

TheInsomniac

TheInsomniac

Washington, DC
October 2003

MAR 09, 2004 08:51 PM

I'm not sure what I think of this idea. However, if they are giving them the vote, it should be a full vote. I don't like the idea of a "half vote."

Jeff_Fries

Jeff_Fries

Humptulips, WA
September 2003

MAR 09, 2004 08:53 PM

SaintAshlar said:
However, if they are giving them the vote, it should be a full vote. I don't like the idea of a "half vote."



Which is ironic, because I would only be comfortable with a fraction of a vote.

unite105

unite105

Salt Lake City, UT
February 2004

MAR 09, 2004 08:57 PM

I think if you're gonna count em, count em, otherwise don't bother, are they saying that kids only have a 1/4 or 1/2 the rights that adults do? I don't think its fair to do this, because you run into problems with voter population. There are forty kids in the district, but only ten votes? it doesn't seem right.

Olivia

Olivia

STAFF

Oakland, CA

MAR 09, 2004 09:06 PM

yeah, i agree, the percentage vote is pretty bullshit. either they can vote or they can't. KIDS RIGHTS!

TheFuckOffKid

TheFuckOffKid

NEWSWIRE

Australia

MAR 09, 2004 09:14 PM

Um.... http://suicidegirls.com/boards/Current+Events/36793/ ??

And drifting somewhat ... I'm starting to wonder if Mullen is really real. I mean, I imagine there really are people in America who speak like that at every turn, but do they really join SGs?

s5

s5

STAFF

San Francisco, CA

MAR 09, 2004 09:19 PM

TheFuckOffKid said:
Um.... http://suicidegirls.com/boards/Current+Events/36793/ ??

And drifting somewhat ... I'm starting to wonder if Mullen is really real. I mean, I imagine there really are people in America who speak like that at every turn, but do they really join SGs?



woops, sorry about the rerun. i swear i looked to see if this was already posted. blush

troglodyte

troglodyte

Victoria, BC
May 2003

MAR 09, 2004 09:33 PM

When you're 14, your opinions about politics are likely to one one of two things: the exact same as your parent's or the exact opposite of your parent's.

At that age, you simply aren't mature enough to form your own opinions, let alone *informed* opinions. Sure, kids are affected by politics, but so are babies, dogs, plants, mountains, the ocean. We don't let them vote.

Max16Characters

Max16Characters

Korea, Republic Of
March 2003

MAR 09, 2004 09:42 PM

I interact with highschool kids everyday at work and what i see frightens me. Trust me....you have no idea what you're talking about if you say that it's a great idea for these people to vote. I'm sure my teacher friends would more than agree with me. Yes, there are many smart, wise-beyond-years, mature teens who do care about this stuff....but they're peas in a sea of corn.

Also, here's a little mental excercise i want you all to do. Think of the person you were at 14, the person you were at 18, and the person you are today if older than 18. I'm betting that the things that matter to you now or that you know really matter in the real world would in many cases not even have entered your mind in your younger selves.

Jeff_Fries

Jeff_Fries

Humptulips, WA
September 2003

MAR 09, 2004 09:46 PM

Max16Characters said:
Think of the person you were at 14, the person you were at 18, and the person you are today if older than 18. I'm betting that the things that matter to you now or that you know really matter in the real world would in many cases not even have entered your mind in your younger selves.



Exactamundo.

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