Massachusetts residents are currently lobbying to adjust the voting age from 18 to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote as well, but it is ill-conceived to grant high school sophomores the right to vote.

The argument is that they are educated and mature enough to make wise decisions of whom to elect as their political officials. This entire argument is flawed in that adults cannot claim sophomores are old enough to vote but then deny them the right to drive alone, to buy tobacco or alcohol products all due to the argument that they are too young to make wise decisions. Lawmakers cannot limit individuals based on the premise that they are still too young to properly moderate their intake of alcohol or make a fact-based decision of whether to use tobacco products after understanding the different health concerns. Sixteen-year-olds are just beginning to gain responsibility as they are learning how to drive and may be beginning to consider colleges and what area of the workforce they may want to pursue after high school.

 No high-schooler is prepared to vote. In most schools, it is not until their senior year that students are required to take a politics and government class that begins to explain portions of civic duty and the voting process as it pertains to citizens on a daily basis. The issue is that these younger voters would most likely be uneducated on the candidates and likely vote based on shallow rumors or their parents’ views. In the U.S., a majority of voters do not actively research the candidates of elections and are more likely to vote based upon their party affiliation rather than the policies of the individual candidates and their platforms.

The larger issue is that policymakers want to pick and choose what 16-year-olds are mature and qualified enough for. It is unjust to claim that they are prepared to vote but then restricting them on if they can drive alone and not allowing them to drive past 9 p.m. except under certain circumstances. The legal drinking age is 21 in an attempt to prevent binging and irresponsible drinking, again assuming that those under 21 are incapable of making wise decisions on how to enjoy alcoholic beverages in moderation. Recently, many counties are increasing the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 again in hopes of preventing younger generations from picking up tobacco use, assuming they are not well educated enough to make the healthy decision.

It is hypocritical to grant certain privileges, such as voting, to 16-year-olds and then deny them other basic privileges on the basis of immaturity. Either drop all legal ages to 16 or do not change the voting age at all. 

Photo from Andreas Breitling via Pixabay