Why We Should Increase the Voting Age

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Voting is important to make sure that the government operates the way it’s designed to and make sure that the citizen’s beliefs are heard by the country political system. From 1781-1971 the voting rights have changed drastically. It started with only allowing men who owned property and were 21 and older to vote. It changed allowing 21 and older to vote regardless of race or ethnic background. Women were later allowed to vote. Finally the 26th amendment lowered the voting age to 18 (Voting History). When a group or person is voting, they are expressing an opinion following a discussion, debate, or campaign. Many people of all ages vote, 18 to 20 year olds are only a small part of the votes. When voting for your country or anything you should know what you are voting for. Many teens don’t. Their votes can be influenced by parents and peers making their votes not true. Being a teen you are not educated enough to even know or understand what they are voting for. The United States Government should increase the legal voting age to allow teens to wait until they fully understand what they are voting for and let them gain their own values to vote for what they think is right.
Children grow up learning and doing what their parents do. What is to stop them from voting like their parents? In the article, “Parents Influence Children’s Political Attitudes” they interviewed a girl named Elisabeth Maylone. She stated that she depended on her parents for her first vote (Madormo, Mary). If she depended on her parents so could others. 71% of teens say their social and political ideology is the same as mom and dads (Lyons, Linda). One might argue that since their parents believe something, then they believe the same thing. But, h...

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... to run our government and we trust them to lead us correctly. Teens are not mature enough to make decide such a big thing. They will vote just like parents making their votes influenced. Many teens are not educated enough to know world affairs. The country is not like it was when the age was lowered to 18. Our generations are different and many too immature to be voting on big issues about our government.

Works Cited
Lyons, Linda. "Teens Stay True to Parents' Political Perspectives." Teens Stay True to Parents' Political Perspectives. N.p., 4 Jan. 2005. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
Madormo, Mary. "Parents Influence Children’s Political attitudes." First Vote 2012. N.p., 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
"Voting History." Voting History. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
"Young Adult Development Project." Young Adult Development Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.

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