And Americans of both major parties overwhelmingly oppose extending voting to 16- and 17-year-olds, according to. Opponents often argue that people at that age aren't mature enough or don't know enough to vote.
Okeke disagrees. Having grown up with the Internet, younger generations have greater access to information, well beyond the pages of a textbook, he said. Armed with that information, youth are"getting frustrated" with their lack of political power, Okeke said, after"exhausting" the tools they do have, such as social media campaigning and protesting.
"When we look down the road, we don't see a hopeful future. We don't see a future where we'll have access to clean water and clean air, and equitable schools," he said."Voting is just the logical next step in making sure that a generation — that is so passionate about change and is so deeply affected by the decisions that are being made now — that we are inserted into policy-making and have a say in our democracy.
Communists have taken over the school system in America. Yes, of course they want kids to vote, they brainwashed them.
Except they’re obviously not learning civics and history. They are however doing things like eating Tide pods, or whatever the stupidity du jour is.
This is why Democrats are so angry all the time! They haven’t learned Civics and History so they say stupid stuff like abolish the electoral college! They need MORE of those subjects not less!
The way schools are indoctrination camps for the left these days i can see why they're going to push for this.
Right, because we've all noticed how much wiser and more mature the youth are these days.
The same fools that do the Tide pod challenge. Democrats must be desperate and need a new naive group
The less informed you are the more you want this.
Then lower the drinking, smoking, gun owning age to 16.
Since our public schools have done such a horrible job of teaching critical thinking, this is an idea only a “progressive” could love.
We should raise it and remove anyone that doesn’t pay a net positive in taxes.
Ah yes let people vote when teachers can punish them for politics and they don't know what a job is.
Well I'm sure that this will lead to even better election results.
Do it like the PSAT’s if you feel you must. Doesn’t count. 16 year olds do not have the wisdom to vote. Not even close. And there’s no way you’ll convince America otherwise.
This is nonsense.
Nope. Should be raised to 21. Repeal26
Irresponsible
This is so dumb. Voting age should be raised to 25.
Kids are 16 are concerned with getting someone to buy them alcohol and Juul pods. They shouldn't vote.
When have they learned Civics or History?
They don't learn civics....their brain isn't fully developed yet....
NO!!
If you are not old enough to drink and smoke you are not old enough to vote.
I've been on twitter. These kids are NOT learning civics at 16 unless they're forgetting it by the time they're in college.
If the ACLU can state that a murderer can't be held accountable for what he did at 19 because his brain wasn't fully developed, then we need to keep that rationale going. Increase the voting age to 28.
It's about time! YouthRights
There is almost no criticism of the youth that can’t also be used against most adults.
No. Make the drinking age 18, voting age 21.
Raise it to 30.
LOL. Tyler thinks students are learning civics and history. LOL. Raise it to 25, when the brain is fully developed, especially the part of the brain for good judgement.
Let’s recall that Kamala Harris said that anybody under 24 was not very smart and incapable of making good decisions. So I guess, she would be a no on this one. Right?
How about we use science? The brain is still developing into your 20s. Maybe longer. 25 should be a fairly safe age.
Fuck. That. Noise. Raise the age to 25 and require a basic civics test and understanding of the candidates prior to voting.
CheckJoesEars
Most 16 year old have the mentality of a chimp.
fuck that. it should be more like 35
Not a good idea. They are not mature enough.
Let's bring the voting age down to 12, joining the military to 14, AND THE DRINKING AGE DOWN TO 16!!!
Well they should either raise the age where you legally can work so that way you're not getting taxed or they should consider a flat age of 16 for all civil liberties including gun purchases
'Some Activists' support 16 year voting because it advances their agenda.The next logical step? what's after that , the 12 year old vote? Young people take to the streets because they have free time and less responsibility. a good portion don't vote when they can.
news npr will never ever tell you:
They are, of course, nuts.
I think a better idea is to reinstate civics classes everywhere. Way too many districts where civics is either not offered or is optional/offered as an elective.
That may be but grown ups are not going to trust children to run the country. Yes I know they could hardly do worse than many grown ups are now doing. I'm glad the activist is involved.
In other words, “we need to teach them how to vote while we still have some control over them”
Bad idea, start paying attention in social studies/civics to begin with.
No! Parents could influence votes.
Trying to pull forward the indoctrinated vote?
Enough stupid people vote as it is.
Y'know? I think this idea has merit. At 16, they're considered mature enough to drive a car, so why let them vote too?
Children are easily fooled. Big mistake.
This is 🐴 💩!
NO.
I think drivers licenses should be 18 yrs old. Considering how mentally immature teenage Americans are now. Not to mention ignorant lil S..t’s phone or music is more important than other cars
The most uninformed generation of all time. Nah
Then any crime by a 16 year old should be tried in an adult court and they should go to an adult prison if they are found guilty. ❤️🇺🇸❤️
Would you rather vote or keep juvenile court at 16?
The problem with lowering the voting age is that teens are more immature than an 18 year old. We’ve seen it with driving and how 16 year old drivers make more mistakes than 18 year olds. Judgement is far weaker in 16 year olds than 18 year olds. We must keep voting age to 18!
Flawless logic.
Yes let’s let them vote
There are many reasons a minor cannot enter into a contract. Similar reason to initiate voting upon attaining adulthood.
Please God, no.
Lololol
Yeah, this should work out swell...
Don't agree with lowering voting age.
This is the left's attempt to get younger and more impressionable kids to he able to vote. Kids like free stuff and the Dems know it
No. No. No. are you crazy?
Has anyone noticed how great Bitcoin is doing? Better than gold and stocks! Worth more than $10k and supposed to go to $20k by spring 2021!
Working teens are taxed but not represented because they don't have the right to vote - like residents of DC
One of the dumbest ideas I have heard.
No to 16 year olds voting. They are not even eligible for the Draft nor to sign legal contracts. Is that the new push?
Why at 16? Lower it all the way to 0.
Democrats are desperate I'm sure everyone one of those activist is a Democrat..
At 16 you have no clue what's important in a president. Lowering the age is a bad idea.
Ew. Voting.
😂
Ah, no
Will they be able to celebrate their civic duty with a beer or cigarette? Nope....not old enough to make that decision! ifyoucantwinchangetherules
Of course, and the age of sexual consent to 12! Grrrrrrrrt.
Yea I think not
Why not 14?
No
1st thought is 16 year old me was dumb and impressionable. 2nd thought was 18 year old me wasn't much better, possibly worst. I didn't really know myself until after my 20s. Sure its different for everyone though.
Fully agreed. Great idea!
This is not a good idea at all
Uh...no.
18-29 year olds consistently have the lowest voter turnout of any age group - around 30%. Let’s just get more in this age group educated and engaged.
Tide Pod eater generation give them voting rights!
Lame. 18 is the ideal.
Raise it to 26 when they are off parents heathcare.
This is correct. The voting age should be lowered.
Nope
I don't want a 16yr with a lawnmower, have you meet a teenager?
They should raise it to 21
What a terrible idea. If there was any way to make this system more of a joke than it is, this is it..
Too young.
🙄🙄 The problem with relying on the Internet is you also need to have the critical thinking skills to know/understand what is true/accurate. I'm a no on this
It’s deft interesting. Although I think 16 year olds are very easily influenced to vote a certain way. Obviously all age groups could be. But Deff younger ones
Has anyone taken the SAT or ACT- these kids are WAY brighter than we are!
Yah, using raw brains to wash them or buy them for their votes
Nope. Not a fan. Too many parents would use it as an opportunity to manipulate the system and stuff the ballot box.
Just a bigger batch of young people who won't vote.
I wouldn’t have wanted any of my kids to have voted when they were 16. Completely irresponsible. These activists are just young DEMOCRAT radicals.
only a democrat could fathom this as a good idea. but i suppose you have to resort to kids and felons when average Americans think your policies suck
why? It's not like young people vote.
I feel like this is fucking terrible idea. This would multiply the conservative vote. My parents made my younger sisters vote with them... their candidate.
desperate democrats--
This is stupid. I do not want children voting.
One of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard.
“Tyler Okeke argues doing so earlier—when students are learning civics and history, rather than when they're dealing with big life decisions at 18...” If voting is too much for them at 18, maybe the age should be raised to 21 so they don’t get so stressed out. 😂
You.. you mean the mofos eating Tide Pods and snorting condoms? I..don't know - I really don't know about this one. Like 14 youth out there give af and the rest trippin' 'bout TikTok.I just don't they are even in touch with themselves - look around lil buddy, damn! Whew, chile no
Increase it to 30
Probably one of the WORST ideas ever. raise it to 30!
dentpipe No.
NPR has set an embarrassing new record of credulousness in 2020. Tell their reporters any damn thing and they just nod along. Is 16 the median age of NPR staff now?
28 is the correct age.
When they are responsible enough to do their homework in a timely manner and not forge parental absence notes then they can vote. That’s not happening. They won’t even do chores.
There would never ever ever be another Republican elected official.
raise it to 25, when adult brain is fully mature.
Raise the voting age to 65
Undeveloped brains, no concept of taxation, not trusted to sign a legal document.....why would this be a good idea?
Fuck no
It should be raised back to 21
Don't stop there. Lower the drinking age to 16 and let them join the military at 16 too. After all, 16 year olds are famous for their critical thinking skills, impulse control, and long term planning ability.
Terrible idea
Terrible idea
The answer is no.
Unlikely to get far, especially when older brothers and sisters are not politically active to help push it. Getting to a place, as close to or at mandatory voting for all would help democracy tremendously. Would also be widely opposed, and possibly backfire without safeguards.
😂🤣🤣
These are persons who eat Tide Pods, jump out of moving cars to dance in TicToc videos, many do not work, don’t drive, have not had junior or senior level government in high school; but yes! By all means. Let’s give them control over our government. Bad. Bad. Idea.
No, how about we PUSH to teach civics for about three years, in the schools?
If you pay taxes you should vote.
This is a gimmick. Its akin to a desperation pass at the end of a game. 18 yr olds barely vote! Why cheapen the process?
So what.
Raise it to 21.
Should be raised to 20.....and/or when you get a job where you actually pay taxes and not get it all back.
Learning history. As in have not learned it yet. Driving and possibly, rarely, paying taxes doesn't seem enough to make me think voting age is a good idea. Unless you're emancipated I would say no. Raise the military age too, by the way.
If they can work and pay taxes, they can vote.
Remember the 16/year olds eating tide pods? I do.....
Make it 26 when they are off their parents health insurance.
14OrFight, baby!
They did it in Scotland 5 years ago
God no. If anything raise it.
I don’t think so, millions of grown working people that don’t live with mommy and/or daddy will become ungovernable. Democrats better find a better way to win elections. Idiots.
If it fixes the fact that less than 50% of millennials and gen z peeps vote, I’m down.
Also what activists are calling for this? They only want 16 year old Bc they can easily manipulate them more than they already are. Stop using children for your sick personal gain
Why is it the Socialists always want to change the rules During a Election they know they will lose no matter what Scam they try, the Numbers will defeat you Losers and you know it
Raise it to 25.
I agree! If you can get a job at 14 and 16. You pay taxes! And anyone who pays taxes have a right to advocate where to spend the money!
How about we don't let little radical far leftest dictate how this country should be ran and let them wait until they are 18 years of age.
Why would you lower it? You have no life experience at 16, you’re still a dependent! If voting is lowered to 16, then so is the selective service, criminal liabilities (jail vs jv), civil liabilities and no longer considered a dependent (no tax benefit). Welcome to the party.
If anything, it should be raised to 25
Disagree. I work with youth. All they do is regurgitate what their parents say. So did I. They haven't experienced much to help them form an opinion yet.
Cool. As long as everyone can be tried as an adult particularly for violent crime.
It would be even easier to make a lifelong habit if they could start developing the habit of voting at age 1. Or maybe we need a better criteria to determine voter eligibility.
Can’t drink beer but smart enough to vote? No thanks
Yeah that is a great plan Teenagers are known for their great decision making... Letting them vote even younger would be a brilliant move You can’t fix stupid!!
What we to do is make voting mandatory. Men and women have died to give us the right to vote, we could at least honor their sacrifice by voting. If we can protest we can vote. Vote
Knowing people the voting age should be 25
Make voter registration ( for those eligible) a requirement for graduation. It is a life skill. It is absolutely appropriate for schools to teach this. Anyone disagreeing is trying to suppress democracy.
I’d rather not leave votes up to those who think eating tide pods is cool and tik tok is definitely not stealing all your information.
Let the most easily manipulated and inexperienced people vote... ya, let’s forget about the rich folks little kid ring and distract people more with sports and dumb ish
They can't do any worse than us old folks.
Meh. 18 is young enough and old enough.
Mmmm, how about no.
Let's lower the drinking and smoking age to 16 as well since they're learning all about it in health class.
No.....
I’d like to raise it to 26, after the ‘kids’ are off their parents insurance
Working 16 year olds pay more taxes than Trump. Why not let them vote?
Um no. You’re not an adult at age 16, barely have a fully developed brain.
No thanks. Most in government don't know how to vote.
No thanks.
We should raise the voting age to whenever your prefrontal cortex finished developing.
Voting age should be lowered to 16 and kids should be registered to vote and be able to vote in high school.
Idk how I feel about that 🤔
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