What age for an opinion?

By: Laurie R.

     Voting is one's way to say to their opinion, but at what age should people be allowed to do so? Today, part of our society has been wondering, should the voting age be lowered to sixteen years old? The answer should be no, it shouldn't, for various reasons. First, sixteen years old shouldn't vote because they are not independent enough. Secondly, a sixteen year old's idea on life and how he or she would like to live it isn't fully developed. Lastly the fact that their ideas aren't developed and lack if independency could result in an unintelligent choice which could impact the society.

     Sixteen year olds shouldn't be allowed to vote because their ideas on what they want in life, how they want to live their life and what kind of society they want to live in isn't fully developed yet. Sixteen year olds do not go to university yet or have a stable job. They don't know the fees of certain studies or payment plans of a real job nor how taxes are divided. Some of these things that may seem unimportant at that age may be a big problem teens are older. But then, it may be too late to change leaders.

     Sixteen year olds should not be permitted to vote because they are not independent enough, after all they are not even considered an adult yet. The age where an individual is considered an adult is eighteen in Canada and twenty-one in the United States, which meas that at sixteen years old is still considered a child or a minor. Teens that age how to ask before getting up from their chair in school, and then it is asked from them to help decide their city/province/country's futur, it isn't right.

     Sixteen year olds voting would be a bad idea because they could easily be influenced and make an unintelligent choice. A certain aspect from a certain political party can blind a teen from certain other changes the party may do to the area it wants to govern. Only a certain promise may seem very convincing to a teenager, convincing enough to vote for that party, when afterall the governement is bad and doesn't keep its promises. If many younger voters are influenced by that, the party may just become the leader of the area and be really bad at governing the population and area.

     

      In conclusion, sixteen year olds shouln't be allowed to vote. There ideas on aren't fully developed, they are not independent enough and lastly they could easily be influenced in an unintelligent choice which could have an impact on society and future citizens.