Voter Turnout Analysis

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The voter turnout has continuously grown in importance for each election. The number of votes being cast fluctuates greatly each year, but as a whole, voter turnout has steadily decreased from the 1968 presidential election to the 2000 election (“Voter Turnout”). At this point, there is a desperateness to increase the voter turnout. There are many potential solutions to increasing the votes being cast, but one in particular is being questioned: the voting age. To what extent would lowering the voting age to sixteen be effective in determining the outcome of fair presidential elections? Many political figures oppose the idea because they believe sixteen year olds are not mature enough, yet handful of people are in favor of letting sixteen and …show more content…
For example, the New Internationalist, a non-profit magazine, facilitated a debate between the UK Youth Parliament member, Chanté Joseph, and Andrew Mycock. They argued about the voting age based on the social perspective. Joseph claims that “‘There is a clear understanding...and engagement with, democracy’” in sixteen years olds, and it needs to be encouraged, not denied by society (Joseph qtd. in “16-year-olds Vote?”). Eventually, Joseph says, it will be too late to motivate teenagers to be politically active for their society (Joseph qtd. in “16-year-olds Vote?”). She emphasizes the importance of political activity from a young age because studies suggest that teenagers continue to vote when they grow up if they start voting young. Her point suggests that the voting age will be effective if it is lowered because sixteen year olds are ready and available to vote. Not only that, but voting at age sixteen will be the most beneficial way to raise future voter turnout, based on Joseph’s findings because there will be a larger voting population. Finally, Joseph reminds Mycock that it is a right for citizens to share their vote, therefore sixteen year olds deserve to vote as …show more content…
On the one hand, professionals argue that is a right as American and British citizens to vote, therefore if not allowed to vote, the government is depriving the youth of a right. Yet, many believe that there is a lack of political maturity and knowledge in younger teenagers, so it would not make sense to let them help decide the fate of the country. However it was agreed by multiple sources that it depends on the motivation of teenagers to vote as to whether or not the voting age would be effective if lowered. As a result, there is no clear solution to the voting age
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