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Debate Info

10
14
Yes No
Debate Score:24
Arguments:20
Total Votes:32
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes (7)
 
 No (13)

Debate Creator

ScorpioLady1(99) pic



Should the age to vote be reduced to 16?

Yes

Side Score: 10
VS.

No

Side Score: 14

16 year olds who have a job should be allowed to vote - otherwise there would be taxation without representation

Side: Some
0 points

There is a lot of taxation without representation in this country. Deal with it.

Side: No
0 points

really? that's the great wisdom you felt you had to impart to us - 'deal with it'? why are you even on this site - ahh yes, points - good luck with that.

Side: yes
2 points

IF you know the issues and care enough to vote, than yes. Otherwise most people this age would not waste their time voting.

Side: yes
2 points

yes. It might be mainly due to my speech impediment when i was young causing me to be highly introspective but i stepped out of my parents shadows pretty early; i could of voted at 15 if not 14. Most people i know who are 16 or 17 are perfectly capable of voting. i'm currently 20 and have a large range of friends. There are several, actually many people who are are in-between 14 and 17 who i can converse with in a logical calm fashion, much more so then some of my family or people older then me. There are also many which deviate sharply from their parents beliefs.As examples most of my friends are atheists, if not modern satanists, with Christian parents; or alternatively one of my friends is christian with Christian parents but is pro-choice instead of pro-life; some beliefs come with out influence of the parents as well, for example many parents smoke cannabis but hide the fact from their kids(it is illegal and young kids talk) till they realize their kids are doing it to and like wise believe it should be legalized.

Side: yes
sir1geto(35) Disputed
1 point

I am not saying that you would be incapable of voting, I am sure there are others like you, however there unfortunately is a large population of equally stupid people out there that should not be allowed to vote at any age (one girl in my class though slaves arrived in the US in the 1850s). If the voting age is lowered I feel that there will be more stupid people who follow their favorite actor/public figure as the authority in politics.

Side: No
casper3912(1581) Disputed
1 point

There has been an increase in independents; suggesting that mindlessly following a public figure or a party is becoming less popular, if it ever was. Also young minds generally haven't became as entrenched in dogma as older ones too often are. I have found youth more willing to listen, to debate reasonably etc, then the majority of older people I've meet. I have also found them more resistant to authority, something i find good and necessary. Will a few of them follow whatever their church leader, bully, or cheerleader says; yea unfortunately, but i don't think it would be any worse then what their parents do.

Having more people vote will give a more representative idea of what people want, by including a entire demographic previously neglected. It would also attach to voting a personal value to youth, making it less otherworldly to them.

The "stupidity" of the girl in your class should easily be remedied, just ask her if native Americans enslaved each other, or if the vikings used slaves as oarsmen. Well, technically thats when they arrived in north America. Slaves are almost everywhere, in almost every time period.

Side: yes

I think it should because I as a 18 year old believe that we need to get kids involved in politics from a early age because not many people turn out to vote any more

Side: yes

I personally believe that with today's technology, teenagers are becoming more informed and able to make a mature decision.

Side: yes
AtlantaEsq(94) Disputed
1 point

In 1989, 74% of the country knew who the vice president was. Today, only 2/3's of the country know who the vice president is. Therefore, 16 year olds are more likely becoming less informed, not more informed. And this is tragic considering our advances in mobile media.

Side: No
1 point

There are a handful of exceptionally bright 16 year olds. By and large I find they have no idea what they are talking about. Even beyond just an understanding of political issues and the world at large, the majority actually seem incapable of understanding complex issues at that point.

Not that some adults aren't the same way, but it's the vast majority of 16 year olds through no fault of their own.

Side: No
1 point

If anything it should be raised to 21, not lowered. Young people in general have no clue what is going on in the country, most of them don't pay taxes, and I don't like the idea of some smug prick whose "eyes have been opened by his college professor" deciding an election.

The only reason I can think of for having the voting age be 18 is because that is the age that people can join the army and the soldiers ought to have a say in who their commander in chief is.

Side: No
1 point

Don't vote, it just encourages them ;)

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Side: No
1 point

I disagree that the voting age should be decreased, I myself am sixteen and I do not trust myself to vote yet. I have read articles about politics, economics, and other world issues, but even if I am ready (which I do not think I am) there are still many other kids who are not ready to accept such a large responsibility.

Side: No
1 point

Are you kidding? Absolutely not. There tends to be a proportional relationship between age and knowledge. In 1989, 74% of the country knew who the vice president was. Today, even with how popular mobile media has become, that number has DROPPED to 67%. As a society, we are becoming smarter in the area of math and sciences but more ignorant in respect to our knowledge of world events and domestic policy. If we as a society are becoming more ignorant, age and knowledge have a proportional relationship, then the logic follows 16 year olds today are less informed than they were roughly 20 years ago. If anything, the voting age should be raised - not lowered.

Side: No

No. A 16 year old does not have the maturity as an 18 year old.

Side: No
0 points

Your average 16 year old doesn't know or understand the basic differentials of Republicans and Democrats. They are normally ignorant to issues at hand, and can barely understand them.

In short 16 year olds are not ready to vote.

Side: No

16 year old are not responsibility enough to be allowed to vote for national, state or local elections.

Side: No
0 points

No. most 16 year olds would vote the way their parents are voting. I believe that at 18, a person begins to have their own problems and issues and they will then be able to choose a candidate based on what they believe, not their parent's beliefs. Most 16 year olds biggest problem is what they will wear to prom and/or who is dating who, or why is a certain class required...which has nothing to do with our country.

Side: No