Michigan Democrats Propose Lowering Voting Age to 16
Source: The Hill
Two Michigan state lawmakers have introduced a proposal that would lower the voting age to 16 for state elections. Rep. Yousef Rabhi (D) and Sen. David Knezek (D) introduced bills in both the House and Senate on Tuesday. Knezek told the Detroit Free Press that 16-year-olds should be able to vote if they are old enough to get a job and pay taxes.
"Young people are setting aside their differences and identifying issues they think need to change," he said, referring to the outpouring of student activism in the wake of recent school shootings. "And they can do everything to get that change except vote."
Changes to the U.S. and Michigan constitutions would be needed to lower the voting age, the Free Press noted, adding that a super majority in the state's House and the Senate would be required to change the state's constitution. That's not likely, it said, considering Republicans control both chambers.
Congress would also have to pass a measure and then send it back to the states for ratification. The nationwide voting age was last changed in 1971, from 21 to 18...more..
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/392295-michigan-democrats-propose-changing-vote-age-to-16
Students from Parkland announced in early June they'd be going on a nationwide bus tour to register young people to vote.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Thats how I feel.
They are the next generation of leaders. They should become aware of the value of one vote.
appalachiablue
(41,146 posts)Wwcd
(6,288 posts)Let them decide.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,011 posts)crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)As much as I support expanding voting rights, I don't think they should be expanded to as young as the Sandy Hook kids were.
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)DownriverDem
(6,229 posts)and would love to see this happen!
appalachiablue
(41,146 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,011 posts)Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Everyone has rights that need protecting from birth on. I don't think we should be allowing first graders a ballot just because are worried about bullies, spelling bees, and velociraptors. Their rights need to be protected by their families and by society. It takes a village.
Besides, the age is lowered again, more voting power will go to heads of large households as they tell young Jack and Jill how to cast their votes.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,011 posts)... driving a vehicle has less executive decision making whereas voting is purely executive (frontal cortex).
The age 16 for driving a vehicle is kind of grandfathered in from when farming communities were a much greater proportion than today. Even so, it is of course useful for parents of high schoolers who often can't taxi them from one commitment to another.
appalachiablue
(41,146 posts)marry in some situations and places in the US, although the latter should be 18 I to avoid exploitation and abuse of women.
Nobody's calling for 6 years old to vote! The prefrontal cortex doesn't fully develop until about age 25 according to most experts.
https://www.thenation.com/article/about-half-of-us-states-set-no-minimum-age-for-marriage/
appalachiablue
(41,146 posts)Zing Zing Zingbah
(6,496 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,011 posts)Get everyone indignant on both sides while the Cons push through more ultra-Conservative judges and repeal more safety regulations and fatten the 1%.
ffr
(22,670 posts)bluevoter4life
(787 posts)Even if this does pass, the courts will strike it down. Michigan might be able to make a case and allow this for state-wide elections and not Presidential but ultimately I think the courts would not allow this.
truthisfreedom
(23,148 posts)in school, they should certainly be able to vote.,.: