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INTRODUCTION: Activists across the United States and around the
world are working to enfranchise young people with what may be
the highest civic duty - the right to vote.
POINTS TO PONDER: "What kind of twisted message do we
send when we tell youth they are judged mature, responsible adults
when they commit murder, but silly, brainless kids when they want to
vote?... Lowering the voting age is the just, fair way to set things
straight." -
National Youth Rights Association
RESOURCES: These organizations, websites, and publications specifically advocate
lowering the voting age to allow young people to participate in this
civic responsibility.
Organizations
Association for Children's Suffrage
Challenging the voting age through lobbying, public meeting, and media.
 Voting: Youth
Citizenship from the American Bar Association
A brief history of the movement to lower the national voting age from 21 to
18.
Free Kids
“Some people think kids are too stupid to
vote. Kids are too selfish, self-centered and irresponsible - grownups say…”
Opening quote from this personal page focusing on children’s suffrage.
The End of Childhood
Fiery rhetoric and significant tools for young
people and adults who want to change the way children are seen in the United
States and Canada today.
National Youth Rights Association Voting Rights Section
Includes timely articles and
assorted arguments for lowering the voting age.
Vote at 16
An organization working to lower
the voting age in Florida.
Mobilzing America's Youth
An all-partisan network dedicated to educating, empowering, and
energizing young people to increase our civic engagement and political
participation.
Publications
Issue Brief: Voting Age
By Susan Vermeer. Explores
legislation and initiatives in 10 states aimed at lowering the voting age.
State legislatures are considering a variety of approaches, from partial
votes starting at age 14 to resolutions urging Congress to change the voting
age nationwide. Details advocates and challengers' stances.
Top 10
Reasons to Lower the Voting Age
Need Surveyed for a Voting Age
Revision
By Bob Siedman. Examines the reasons for lowering the voting age from
21 to 18.
The "Age" of
Democracy
Argues for an abolished
voting age.
Why Children Should Have a Vote
by Duncan Lindsey
Proposal to Lower the Voting Age
by Keith Mandell. While this proposal makes the case for why Washington, DC
should lower its voting age, the research and arguments are universal.
By Bob Franklin. An article that uses John Holt's reasoning to argue
for the elimination of the minimum voting age.
Children's Most Essential Right
By Ben O'Meara. A well-researched paper that focuses on the legal
argument for lowering the voting age and makes use of social science
research to support the argument.
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