Should Sixteen Year Old be able to Vote?

Right now, only people over eighteen are allowed to vote, this is something that every Canadian citizen should know. People think that only people over eighteen are mature enough and actually take political issues seriously. Right now, people are thinking whether or not sixteen-years old should be able to vote. Some people think that at the age of sixteen the teens are not old and mature enough to vote in an election. The truth is, they should be able to vote. At the age of sixteen, it is only 2 years away from eighteen, and that’s not a very big of a difference. Teens also know what is right and wrong, do not have to wait until eighteen, the “legal” age. They also have the right for political parties to give serious consideration to the needs and opinions of youth, and, get attention when developing public policy, and it can cause different benefits too.

At the age of sixteen, there’s not a very big difference between the way people think when they are eighteen because after sixteen, it doesn’t take 2 years for your brain to fully develop. People are always upgrading themselves and learn a lesson everyday. That cannot say that after eighteen they can actually be mature and think properly. There are also some people that are way over eighteen, but still are not mature and might not be as mature as an eighteen-year-old. So why make the law eighteen because sixteen year olds aren’t “mature” enough to vote? Teens have the same opinions and needs as those who are eighteen. They are both teens and go through the same things in school, at home, or with friends. By sixteen, teens will be finding jobs and trying to gain experience, this also pulls the distance of sixteen-year-olds and eighteen-year-olds closer.

They will share the same experience and have the same basic knowledge on life. Also, since eighteen year olds are about to leave high school, or already are out of high school, it would be useful to have opinions from the citizens that are in high school that have different needs than the people who are out of high school. 16-year-olds can represent all the students form their school and talk about what they really want and this way, can even help government improve the education system for the students.

Teens mature at sixteen and know what’s right and what’s wrong. A lot of people over eighteen still do not know what is right and wrong. They might even do more bad things since they think they know everything. At sixteen, teens would be in grade ten, or eleven. They would have gone through half of their high school, and have gained a lot of experience and knowledge from school. In grade ten, students have to take a course called Civics, which teaches things like politics, and government related subjects. Although this course is brief, but there are a lot of things you learn in that course. It gives you a good understanding of politics.

Also, their minds will develop and mature into an adult from different things. Government shouldn’t take away their right to vote because they think teens don’t seem mature enough. Also, if they are Canadian citizen, teens have the right to voice our opinions and have our needs to tell the government. Teens are the one that will eventually grow up and go into the real world where they find jobs. They are the ones that will dominate our society in the future. Government should find out what they want right now, so they won’t complain in the future. That way the society won’t have so much people going on strike, or

The last reason that sixteen year olds can vote is that the youth make up such a big majority of the population , and the politicians need to please the majority, it’s only natural that they consider the needs and wants of today’s desiring youths. Therefore, the government should consider their opinion and so in the future, the ideas they express can become reality. Lowering the voting age to sixteen would give teachers, parents, and politicians the opportunity to create programs that go out to students at a young age and get them excited about voting before it is too late. The government classes in school would be more in depth, with the student understanding by relating to what they are learning. Rather than memorizing words, they would participate in democracy and not forget the importance of our government. Campaigns would be set up in schools, television, and newspapers that encourage youth to go to the polls. They would feel their opinions count and gain a new sense of responsibility.

The results of this proposed reform are clearly beneficial to all Canadians. A look at just a few of these benefits proves why this is the best possible reform. In contrast to what the opposition of the reform believes, sixteen to eighteen year olds have opinions on issues other than school dances and sales at the mall. They are valid and valuable because we receive the prospective of our youth; our nation’s future. These opinions also represent another benefit: the great possibility that lowering the voting age would not only increase the number of young voters, but the number of total voters as well. Involving our youth in the voting process will create an excitement about democracy that will affect all people in the community. Teachers required to teach and motivate their students to vote, parents, grandparents, and community leaders will gain more knowledge of the issues and candidates on the ballot, also receiving these young people’s opinions through discussion and learning. This will open minds and give everyone a fresh new prospective. This will result in a greater number of citizens taking part in the voting process and representing their opinions about our country in the polls.