Nova Scotia should lower voting age to 16

[madmax]

It might be interesting to have the same age for when people are considered adult enough to be responsible in all ways for themselves.

For driving = 16

For voting = 16

For crime = 16

For military = 16

You missed Drinking? I was in the military before I was elegible to drink.

It doesn't matter where you put the voting age. Voter turnout will remain low. If the high school students aren't interested in voting by 18, I hardly see how lowering the age to 16 will make a difference.

Twenty to Twenty-five years ago it wasn't unusual to have students drop out and start working. This is roughly that last age group that votes. Those above the age of 40.

Today, the younger generation is still living at home, young families are "too busy" and don't bother to follow politics.

I can't see that changing anytime soon. Even if the schools encouraged 16 year olds to vote in elections, (should the age be lowered), it wouldn't surprise me to see voter participation drop as soon as they leave high school.

[jdobbin]

You missed Drinking? I was in the military before I was elegible to drink.

I personally think we should be taking the same view on alcohol as the Europeans do. The age should be 16. We aren't Europeans though and I don't think it would fly politically or socially. And it would raise the topic of whether tobacco

It doesn't matter where you put the voting age. Voter turnout will remain low. If the high school students aren't interested in voting by 18, I hardly see how lowering the age to 16 will make a difference.

I think the difference might be that it would be a teachable moment at home and in the classroom. What people do with it after that is up to them

Twenty to Twenty-five years ago it wasn't unusual to have students drop out and start working. This is roughly that last age group that votes. Those above the age of 40.

Today, the younger generation is still living at home, young families are "too busy" and don't bother to follow politics.

I can't see that changing anytime soon. Even if the schools encouraged 16 year olds to vote in elections, (should the age be lowered), it wouldn't surprise me to see voter participation drop as soon as they leave high school.

Obviously, lowering the age of the vote to 16 simply to increase voter participation is not the sole reason for doing it. And if the argument is that is should not be done because most youth won't vote, it sounds like the same arguments made in regards to women not really wanting to vote.

[madmax]

And if the argument is that is should not be done because most youth won't vote, it sounds like the same arguments made in regards to women not really wanting to vote.

I am not going down that path I see a skihill, ice from top to bottom.........

[noahbody]

Did you demonstrate a level of competency at any point when you first started voting?

I had to make an x in a little box.

It is not a legal contract.

Did I say it was? I said "closer to." Answer my question. Should all 16 year old be able to be bound to a contract? Should all 16 year olds be tried as an adult?

It is funny to hear the same argument used against 16 year olds on the vote as ones used against women. People said they weren't competent and so on.

There is no gender discrimination here.

[jdobbin]

I had to make an x in a little box.

Think most people can do that if they are allowed to and motivated to do so.

Did I say it was? I said "closer to." Answer my question. Should all 16 year old be able to be bound to a contract? Should all 16 year olds be tried as an adult?

16 year olds can be tried as an adult and 16 year can sign certain contracts. I'm not sure what path you are on here. Do I think 16 year old should be tried as an adult for adult crimes? Yes. Should they be able to sign contracts at 16? Yes.

I also think the law should allow for protections offered to youth in terms of exploitation, rights to education and state support till 18. In other words, a 16 year old can sign a contract to act in a movie or be a singer but they have to continue education and receive other state supports aimed at the young.

A 16 year old should be able to vote.

There is no gender discrimination here.

No, it's age discrimination and one that is hard to justify when we let 16 year olds drive cars: far more dangerous thing than a vote.

Edited November 1, 2008 by jdobbin