youth voting Options

[*tweeak*]

not quite sure if this is the right forum, sorry

what is the point of this whole youth voting movement? if the kids of age are oblivious to the election to begin with, what makes them think that once they register to vote, kids will take the time to find out any of the political info that would make them smart voters?so, what does anyone really gain from ignorant voters? they dont really care, so theyre going to vote for whichever canidate they find superficially better, so what is the point of encouraging kids to vote when those who care planned to anyway?

[imafreakinazn]

um...i think this should be in debate..right?

anyhoo...i think the same as you. i mean, most kids will vote for who their friends vote for, and they'll juss vote for whoever they want. or whoever they think they want to make fun of more. so i think it'd be really stupid for kids to vote, and they set the age level right.

[faithin_felix]

is this for the george bush/john kerry thing?

[rhqtpie]

well a lot of the ppl voting in the first place dont really care bout the real issues, and r jus voting straight democrat or republican, or jus for who they "like" or "dont like" and if we encourage ppl to vote we could get them interested in the election, i noe alot of organizations that r urging ppl to vote will also pass out websites and stuff for each candidate, to get the voter to realize the issues at hand

[Chaos13]

who voted for Kerry? bush?

i think that kids hsould kinda not vote because there parents might infuence them to vote, but if its only a poll then i guess they can take the poll!

[Spirited Away]

Actually, I don't think we should bunch all kids together and say that they're all universally uninformed. There are a few teens (under 18) on cB who knows their political stance fairly well and I think they should be able to vote.

It's the rest of the kids that haven't got a clue that I'm worried about.

[Auktane]

its the kids like me..i dont bother with politics...

[angel-roh]

hmm debate debate debate? yeah i think this should be moved to debate forums

[xquizit]

not quite sure if this is the right forum, sorry

what is the point of this whole youth voting movement? if the kids of age are oblivious to the election to begin with, what makes them think that once they register to vote, kids will take the time to find out any of the political info that would make them smart voters?so, what does anyone really gain from ignorant voters? they dont really care, so theyre going to vote for whichever canidate they find superficially better, so what is the point of encouraging kids to vote when those who care planned to anyway?

Thank you so much for pointing this out. I've spoken with people who are my age and younger about this coming election and they seem to lack REAL valid reasons to vote for who they want to vote for.


By the way, I'm moving this to the Debate Forum.

Topic Moved.

[*tweeak*]

Actually, I don't think we should bunch all kids together and say that they're all universally uninformed. There are a few teens (under 18) on cB who knows their political stance fairly well and I think they should be able to vote.

It's the rest of the kids that haven't got a clue that I'm worried about.

i wasnt referring to them as a whole, just the ones that they have to encourage to vote to begin with. im 15 and i know a lot more about politics than a lot of 18+ people i know, and im not even all that up on it

Thank you so much for pointing this out. I've spoken with people who are my age and younger about this coming election and they seem to lack REAL valid reasons to vote for who they want to vote for.

thanks, its been on my mind a lot recently since all that "vote or die" etc etc crap started. then last night i was reading my school news paper and they were spelling out the most obvious things about the election that i dont understand how you could miss unless you live in a hole, and i go to a reletively good school, so if they have to force those kids to vote, what about the even more ignorant ones?

[lilazneye10]

i tink that kids should be able to vote.. kidz have minds and hearts its just lyke saying male can vote my females cant..

[ComradeRed]

Everyone over 12 should be allowed to vote. But 95% of people between 12 and 17 wont care enoguh, so only the well informed people would actually go out and vote.

[Spirited Away]

i wasnt referring to them as a whole, just the ones that they have to encourage to vote to begin with. im 15 and i know a lot more about politics than a lot of 18+ people i know, and im not even all that up on it

Of course, of course. I wasn't targeting only you when I said that. There are many people who will straight out deny that teens should vote before thinking and that's what I wanted to address.

Actually, I was guilty of thinking kids shouldn't vote before debating with a couple politically savvy ones on cB. Now, I know better.

[lilazneye10]

Well at least youth people should get a choice

[*tweeak*]

Of course, of course. I wasn't targeting only you when I said that. There are many people who will straight out deny that teens should vote before thinking and that's what I wanted to address.

Actually, I was guilty of thinking kids shouldn't vote before debating with a couple politically savvy ones on cB. Now, I know better.

i deinitely think some kids should be able to vote- the well informed ones, but i dont think they should encourage young voters to vote when theyre just going to pick someone randomly. they were encouraging these people at the end of my lunch table to register to vote, but i doubt any of them would know republican from a democrat (i just typed remocrat, whoops ) if they came up and started bludgeoning them with campaign signs.

maybe there should be some sort of short political awareness test that people under a certain age should have to take to be able to vote, as that way they would actually be able to lower the voting age without worrying about the ignorant brainwashed little kids who will just go and vote for whoever their parents tell them to. as much as i hate tests, if it meant i could vote id be willing to do that

[ComradeRed]

Wow! I just read this great article that changed my opinion of this stuff completely.

Basically the article said:

1) People vote because they feel it is their duty and the cost of voting is very small.
BUT
2) Since the benefit of voting is basically 0, yet paying attention carires a greater cost than voting, a lot of people will voluntarily stay UNINFORMED.

We need to start dispelling the myth that it is your duty to vote. Either stay informed and then vote. Or don't vote at all.

[someflipguy]

our country is built on democracy...so without voting it wouldn't make it a democracy.

[*tweeak*]

our country is built on democracy...so without voting it wouldn't make it a democracy.

yes, i of course we must vote, but i dont think they should encourage the ignorant to take part in an important matter they would not ordinarily

[vehvih]

For the kids to get familiar with the procedure, and prevent ignorance.

Well you know what I mean..

[xquizit]

I think the whole movement shouldn't just be about encouraging the youth to vote, but to encourage them to educate themselves and learn enough about the candidtates and the issues so that they CAN make an informed decision and then vote.

[gigiopolis]

I think the whole movement shouldn't just be about encouraging the youth to vote, but to encourage them to educate themselves and learn enough about the candidtates and the issues so that they CAN make an informed decision and then vote.

I agree. In fact, we should encourage people of all ages to educate themselves about presidential candidates and the general idea of politics. Being an "adult" doesn't necessarily mean you make the right decisions. A lot of people are voting solely for loyalty reasons or for some stupid superficial reasons, as my_papaya pointed out.
There could be a lot more young people who know about politics than there are adults who know. Because after all, there are much more educated children there are now than there were 30 years ago.

[*tweeak*]

I think the whole movement shouldn't just be about encouraging the youth to vote, but to encourage them to educate themselves and learn enough about the candidtates and the issues so that they CAN make an informed decision and then vote.

yes, i agree with that completely. although as the person above me pointed out, they should make an effort to educate the adults as well. in school they try to teach us (kind of, but they cant stray from the curriculum much, so we dont learn much of anything of importance, but ill save those complaints for another topic) but no one pays attention because they think that because they cant vote it doesnt matter. if they lowered the voting age for certain people, people may want to learn, possibly even devolop an interest. however, i do not mean to say that those over 18 should be tested, as that would infringe on their rights, but if the kids were to have to test, then it would be a privlage, which would actually make kids want to vote more, as they love to think theyre smarter than others

[*basick*]

i think agree with xquizit and papaya... i think you need to educate the young people about the whole voting process and the candidates because voting is a collective voice. and when people like russel simmons and puffy are running around telling you to vote saying "you will make a difference"... thats some bullshit

[gigiopolis]

i think agree with xquizit and papaya... i think you need to educate the young people about the whole voting process and the candidates because voting is a collective voice. and when people like russel simmons and puffy are running around telling you to vote saying "you will make a difference"... thats some bullshit

So true. Anyone who actually listens to his threat, "VOTE OR DIE" is seriously too demented to understand politics, and therefore SHOULD NOT VOTE!! They're making voting seem "cool". Which isn't a bad thing, but then it could lead to people voting just for the hell of it. Which happens too often already.

By the way topheavy, I also have an uncontrollable fetish towards Nike Dunks. =)

[someflipguy]

Power to the people!! *RAISES FIST* hehe...

[oridethewaveso]

Wow. Another thing that's a huge part of my life..
We do 'kids voting' stuff in school. And it's cool. But it means absoloutly nothing. If it meant something, I'd be a lot more willing to do it. Even if all of the votes meant nothing but a 5% of what it should. It could still make a differece.
I have a friend who's 13, and she's able to haev political debates with an 19 year old, and win. It's insane. Me and my mom have political convorsations, too, and they always work. Because I know my stuff, man.

Errm, and I didn't really read anyone's post, so mine probably doesn't follow the convorsation, but I need ed to say it. :D

[Edele]

Being a political science major I know a lot about our system and I kinda have to know about the canidates. Yet, I am unable to vote due to the fact that I am 17. I graduated high school early but I can't vote. That kinda sucks. But I do encourage young adults to vote. But also get informed. I'm glad the age limit is 18 due to the fact that before that I believe a lot of teens and earlier are too involved with their own lives, are just to busy or unconcerned. But I do know there are underagers (like myself) who are informed.

[DittotoAnne18]

i sort of wish i could vote.. i mean, who becomes president does affect me, so why cant i vote?

[iheartsimba]

that mtv thing actually bugs me a lot. people should only vote if they want to you know? nt be pressured into it. if voting is the 'right' thing...well why vote if you dont even know much about politics? its a waisted vote form somebody who first of all doesnt care who wins, and just pretty much picks someone. i dont think people should be so pressured about it...

plus they interupt my shows >.<

[*tweeak*]

you cant vote because many kids are ignorant, and there definitely has to be some restriction to the voting age. read the previous responces.

also, do you think its true that many kids would prefer to vote democratic because it seems cooler and more rebellious, even if theyre very politically well informed? and that republican views become clearer once youre older and pay taxes and such?

my mom said that to me when i told her about my politics discussion this afternoon, and how all my friends want kerry. i found that interesting, and there might actually be some truth in it, but i need to think it over more. what do you think?

[ComradeRed]

Well, if they are ignorant then thye wouldn't vote in the first place.

[*tweeak*]

Well, if they are ignorant then thye wouldn't vote in the first place.

not necessarily. whith the way celebs are promoting it, it may seem cool for some people, so theyll vote even though they have no clue why they want that person. adults do it all the time...

[ComradeRed]

Yo

[sammi rules you]

well i suppose it's to encourage those who are undecided to get involved and learn more.

[*tweeak*]

Yo

yes, exactly

[xj_liana_tx]

i agree with u.. mostly.. teenagers can't make the rite desicion, they follow their peers... i guess maybe ppl can choose some teenagers accordin to some requirements to vote..

[sikdragon]

Under the age of 18, you are not considered educated enough and are biased because you are still living under the support of another and tend to vote the way of the parent/gaurdian who is supporting you. 70% of teens who claim to be for or against a certain candidate do not know why. Some may think they do, but they dont.

[sammi rules you]

Under the age of 18, you are not considered educated enough and are biased because you are still living under the support of another and tend to vote the way of the parent/gaurdian who is supporting you. 70% of teens who claim to be for or against a certain candidate do not know why. Some may think they do, but they dont.

however, there are many that do. just because my mother's democratic is not why i'm pro-kerry. if i really thought bush was the better cantidate, i would be all for him. however, there's several reasons i don't which i'm not going to type all out here since i have in many other places. i pay attention to politics and i'm educated in them. why should i not be able to vote? if younger people could vote, the president could be different. believe it or not, but there are a lot of young people that are educated in political issues. (not all, but a lot)

[sikdragon]

It doesnt matter. According to the government you are not a full citizen, until you are eighteen, therefore you have no rights. The reason you can't vote is because they can't create a double standard among youth. The process of explaining why has no bearing on their knowledge of your ability to make a well-infomred decision. Being under the roof of another makes your opinion biased. You only hear the case of one candidate.

Note: This is not always true, but enough so that the government has made it law.

[*tweeak*]

It doesnt matter. According to the government you are not a full citizen, until you are eighteen, therefore you have no rights. The reason you can't vote is because they can't create a double standard among youth. The process of explaining why has no bearing on their knowledge of your ability to make a well-infomred decision. Being under the roof of another makes your opinion biased. You only hear the case of one candidate.

Note: This is not always true, but enough so that the government has made it law.

yes, for example my entire family is staunchly bush, but im for kerry. but it doesnt matter, because i cant vote. which is not necessarily bad, many kids dont think individually, but generalizations should not be so frequently made. it may be law, but there are many laws that should not necassarily be intact. and while the voting age is not one of them, you should not be able to use the excuse that its a law

[sammi rules you]

^ why'd it quote him and say my name?

It doesnt matter. According to the government you are not a full citizen, until you are eighteen, therefore you have no rights. The reason you can't vote is because they can't create a double standard among youth. The process of explaining why has no bearing on their knowledge of your ability to make a well-infomred decision. Being under the roof of another makes your opinion biased. You only hear the case of one candidate. 

Note: This is not always true, but enough so that the government has made it law.

most 18 year olds are still under their parent's roofs. (rooves?..roofs?..i dunno. whichever. you get the point.)

[sikdragon]

doesnt matter. We do not need more uneducated voters.

[sammi rules you]

doesnt matter. We do not need more uneducated voters.

that's why i'm saying they should only allow some younger voters because a lot of them ARE educated.

[sikdragon]

That is a double standard.

[*tweeak*]

^ why'd it quote him and say my name?


most 18 year olds are still under their parent's roofs. (rooves?..roofs?..i dunno. whichever. you get the point.)

whoops, i changed my mind of who i was quoting but forgot to change the name bit

youre completely right on the other bit. my mom is 46 and she still votes for who her father votes for

doesnt matter. We do not need more uneducated voters.

have you not read what others have said? its not a matter of wanting them to lower the voting age, but of them encouraging uneducated voters. because thats exactly what theyre doing, in having celebs support voting but not give any actual evidence of why they support a particular canidate. while that would still be propoganda, it would be propoganda with something behind it

[*wind&fire*]

i deinitely think some kids should be able to vote- the well informed ones

how can you discriminate a "well informed" child... the people that inform the child could be bias... i think that age discrimination is adequate... giving you the amount of experince in life to make an intelligent decision....

[sammi rules you]

how can you discriminate a "well informed" child... the people that inform the child could be bias... i think that age discrimination is adequate... giving you the amount of experince in life to make an intelligent decision....

the people who inform some 18 year olds could also be biased. most seniors in my school are taking government..the gov teacher is strongly for kerry. some of my friends in that class are influenced by that. so, saying young people's information could be biased isn't a reason to not let them vote. anyone's information can be,

[*wind&fire*]

^^ yet by the time they are 18 they have the intelligence to know what is best rather mindlessly following others...

[*tweeak*]

^and they wouldnt at other ages? i know better not to follow others at 15 than my mom does at 46. she still votes for whoever her dad votes for. age does not have that much to do with it. while yes, age may effect opinions and there definitely must be an age limit to voting, you cannot assume that by 18 people can make their own decisions, when in reality that has little to do with it. i dont necessarily think they shold lower the voting age, but if they were going to, i think a test on general plotical knowlage should be taken to register

[oridethewaveso]

I just wrote a really good post.

And then I realized that above my post, someone had said the same thing.

I think a political test should be given, too. :D

[sammi rules you]

yeah..there's some educated young people. tests should be given so these people can contribute.