This is a common question I’ve stumbled upon on the internet, and I have developed my own opinion on the matter. A pretty controversial opinion, actually. Lowering the voting age to 16 would be one of the biggest mistakes in American history.
Increasing it to at least 21 seems most reasonable. I believe that changing the voting age to 21 could lead to a more informed and mature electorate. Individuals in their early twenties and above are likely to possess a higher level of life experience, responsibility and a better understanding of societal issues compared to younger voters.
16-year-olds may lack the necessary life experience and knowledge to make informed choices about complex political issues. Not to mention the majority of 16 year old’s susceptibility to external influences, potential for manipulation, and the disruption of consistent legal age standards.
By raising the voting age, we may reduce potential uniformed and impulsive decision making that could be associated with younger voters. Individuals in their early twenties are more often settled in their lives, having completed at least some level of education and potentially entered the workforce. This exposure to a variety of experience could contribute to a more thoughtful and considered approach to political decision making..
Raising the voting age aligns with other age related rights and responsibilities, such as the legal drinking age and the age at which individuals can serve in the military. A consistent age threshold for these rights and responsibilities encourage a sense of coherence and fairness in the legal system. There is a clear consistency in the age at which individuals are deemed mature enough to undertake certain societal responsibilities.
The legal drinking age and the age to enlist in the military are both commonly set at 21. If society deems individuals at this age capable of making responsible decisions regarding alcohol consumption and taking on the duties of military service, extending the voting age to 21 aligns with these standards.
A consistent method for addressing age related rights and responsibilities contribute to a clearer and fairer legal structure. This conveys a consistent message regarding the societal expectations placed on individuals during this phase of their lives. This consistency is seen as a way to avoid potential inconsistencies and improve the overall transparency of the legal system, establishing a cohesive standard for evaluating maturing and responsibility and many various areas.
https://www.youthrights.org/issues/voting-age/top-ten-reasons-to-lower-the-voting-age/
^ I attempted to contradict what many articles said because I found many more articles about lowering the voting age rather than increasing it.
