Jonah Pappas
Staff Writer
The question of whether minors should be allowed to vote is a complex and debated issue in democratic societies around the world, with most countries setting the voting age at 18. However, some argue that lowering the voting age could enhance democracy by involving younger citizens in decision-making from an earlier age.
The advent of social media and the prevalence of technology has created a group of the most politically aware kids ever. If these politically aware kids are given the opportunity to vote, then they can actually make a difference in the issues that they always hear about. By not being forced to sit on the sidelines and actually make a change, these kids will believe in the power of voting, and when they grow up, they will know that they can cause changes in whatever they want to. But with the heavy usage of social media, there comes a price. Misinformation spreads like wildfire, and because some kids do not put the proper research into it, they can be lied to and tricked.
Another argument for lowering the voting age is that children have the biggest stake in the future; if terrible laws are voted into place, they are the ones hurt the most. If they are able to shape the policies that will affect them, they can choose the way that the rest of their life goes.
Lowering the age could also improve education. If someone wants to make an educated decision about an election, they will naturally try to learn as much as they can about it. If more people can vote, then more people will want to learn more about the policies and ideas pf the politicians. However, there are many valid arguments against lowering the voting age. Children under 18 may not be mature enough to decide the fate of their country. Letting immature children vote risks the possibility of an election that does not represent the true feelings of the country. If a large group of these immature kids decides to vote childishly, the impacts could be devastating.
Lowering the voting age would also affect the politicians themselves. If a whole new demographic was suddenly introduced, most politicians would change their policies to cater to the new voters. Depending on how different politicians act, this could result in at least one demographic being entirely left out
The debate over this is nuanced and complicated but ultimately, any decision to change the voting age should be made with careful consideration of the potential impacts on the democratic process, and the ability of minors to make informed and independent decisions. The debate continues, highlighting the ongoing need to evaluate and adapt democratic systems to the evolving dynamics of society.
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