16 years old voters

[Thorne]

My feeling is that the voting age should be based primarily on maturity, not on age alone. Granted, there may be some 16 year olds who are mature enough to handle the responsibility of voting. And there are some 60 year olds who aren't. But in general, I don't think the average high-school graduate is mature enough. Showing maturity by enlisting in the military (or yes, other forms of service organizations as well. I admit, I didn't think about those) should reflect well upon people. Even during a draft, coming out of a military term with an honorable discharge will generally indicate an acquired maturity, as does gaining a college degree. Perhaps even an Associate's level degree would be enough, I don't know.

But I never advocated denying anyone the right to vote permanently, nor did I say anything about 30 years old. My first thought was 25 years. Maybe that's too old, maybe not enough, I don't know.

Immigrants who apply for citizenship must pass a citizenship before they earn the right to vote. Maybe we should have all citizens take such a test. I doubt that most American adults today could pass such a test, which is not a good thing. As SadisticNature noted, several of the latest presidents, and I would venture to guess Congressmen and Senators as well, won because of their popularity and charm, rather than their qualifications.

And lest you think my answer is just sour grapes, I don't think the under-20's elected the wrong candidate. Obama was, in my opinion, the lesser of two evils. Alas, history may prove me wrong.

[SadisticNature]

My feeling is that the voting age should be based primarily on maturity, not on age alone. Granted, there may be some 16 year olds who are mature enough to handle the responsibility of voting. And there are some 60 year olds who aren't. But in general, I don't think the average high-school graduate is mature enough. Showing maturity by enlisting in the military (or yes, other forms of service organizations as well. I admit, I didn't think about those) should reflect well upon people. Even during a draft, coming out of a military term with an honorable discharge will generally indicate an acquired maturity, as does gaining a college degree. Perhaps even an Associate's level degree would be enough, I don't know.

But I never advocated denying anyone the right to vote permanently, nor did I say anything about 30 years old. My first thought was 25 years. Maybe that's too old, maybe not enough, I don't know.

Immigrants who apply for citizenship must pass a citizenship before they earn the right to vote. Maybe we should have all citizens take such a test. I doubt that most American adults today could pass such a test, which is not a good thing. As SadisticNature noted, several of the latest presidents, and I would venture to guess Congressmen and Senators as well, won because of their popularity and charm, rather than their qualifications.

And lest you think my answer is just sour grapes, I don't think the under-20's elected the wrong candidate. Obama was, in my opinion, the lesser of two evils. Alas, history may prove me wrong.

Apologies I mixed up your post where you said 25, and denuseri's which suggested 30 (although perhaps not whole-heartedly).