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"The right to vote"

Here's a question for you all. Should the right to vote be universal? Should we all be allowed to have our say on government simply because we are 18 years or older?

Opinions welcome.

I don't care about it anymore. It's not the same place I loved a few years ago & nothing I do's going to change that.

Why don't you go to PM?

Like what?

Make another sodd¡ng topic about "what x are you y'ing right now?"?

Anyway. Bye

Whatever man. You have the kind of attitude that stops people from ever becoming truly sucessful in life.

Good to see we're keeping on topic.

Right, let's get back on topic then!

As we live in a Democracy, everyone deemed an adult has the right to vote. It took an awfully long time for universal suffrage to be achieved, and the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in the 1960s... why? As far as I can reckon, by that time you were deemed to be an adult at 18. Should it stay that way? Yes, and I say this at a time when the government plans to raise the age of compulsary eduction to up to 18.

In addition to this, how many 16 year-olds are politically aware, or even really care? The number of people voting in elections is constantly slipping, and were an age group that seems to be largely apathetic were also included, it would lower turnout figures, which would not look good at all. Groups of people have previously been enfranchised after being percieved as having proven their worth; all adult males after World War I, and all houseowners in 1885, for example, as both groups were deemed sensible to enfranchise. Would 16 year-olds be a good choice now?

If they are deemed responsible and able to make the correct judgements, yes, otherwise no, as it would leave us with governments apporved by an even smaller proportion of the "Adult" population... and isn't this vital in a democracy? Are people of such an age aware of the issues they should be when voting? Personally, I think not, I say keep it at 18.

Otherwise, I'm concerned with how aware people are of politics, and the role it plays, how neccessary it is to participate... but what the hell, I study politics and am generally objectional, enough ranting for now.

P.S.; Prisoners do not deserve the vote, nor should they be given it. They're in Prison for a reason, and we don't use a proportional voting system, so there are 2 reasons why it's a stupid idea. :)

You don't think sixteen year olds deserve the right to vote even though the election affects them in so many ways?

If they're aware of the issues concerned, by all means... I personally don't see the point myself though, as it would mean enfranchising an age group who seem to be more ignorant or apathetic towards some issues; not meaning any offence to people a couple of years younger than myself, of course.

If enough were aware of the relevant issues I would support such an idea, it's a matter of how many would vote and how many would be aware of relevant issues, as this would affect turnout as well as who gets the votes... either that, or I seem to know too many people who are, to all extents, blissfully ignorant or just plain stupid! :)

It's difficult to think of a justified reason as to why someone over 18 should be excluded from the democratic process.

That's a banal comment, I know. But I've thought about it and I can't justify a reason. All I can think of is that we must each earn the right to vote, but again, I can't think of a justifiable reason why I should be forced to earn my right to take part in the democratic process. Not that I believe there is any great weight to this right, especially when the two main parties are for all intents and purposes one and the same.

I can think of a very good reason why people should be excluded to vote:

"Why did you vote for X"
"Because The Sun told me to"

Genius.