Should Kids Be Allowed To Vote: Many Americans Say All Ages Should Vote
Should kids be allowed to vote? Like your 16 year old. And what about your 5 year old. Do you think they should be allowed to vote?
Should Kids Be Allowed To Vote
In a very extensive YouGov poll, 20% of Americans think kids should be allowed to vote. And 13% of people support giving parents one additional vote for each child they have who is a minor.
Every election, the campaigns push to “get out the vote.” they encourage everyone to let their voices be heard. But one group’s voices that are not being heard: Babies. Well, unless you’ve flown recently. If you have, you probably think babies are being heard just fine.
There’s a new poll out on voting, and it includes this fascinating statistic: 20% of Americans think kids “of all ages” should be allowed to vote. Now I don’t know how this would work for YOUNG kids. Since they’re just learning to color inside the lines, how would they be able to fill in a tiny bubble with a pen?
If Kids Are Allowed To Vote Won’t They Just Vote For Their Parents Candidate
But here is another option: 13% of people support giving parents one additional vote for each child they have who is a minor. Oddly enough, those percentages are virtually the same between conservatives and liberals. Although folks 65 years old and older are not as hot on teens or little kids voting, or parents getting extra votes.
If parents DID get an extra vote for their kids, wouldn’t that just be another vote for whichever candidates THEY like? Well, not necessarily.
If this happened, 53% of people say the parents would “always” or “usually” vote the same when voting on behalf of their young kids. But 19% say that would only be the case “sometimes.”10% say the votes would only match “rarely,” and 6% say they’d “never” be the same. Hmm, don’t know if I believe this, but sure.
About 20% of parents said they would “always” or “usually” customize their kids’ votes, to represent the best interests of their children. 33% say these “kids” votes would only be “sometimes” in the children’s best interests, and 27% say they’d “rarely” or “never” be in their best interests. Hmm – so kids don’t count, even though they have a vote?
Whether or not you lower the voting age – even to 16 – a whopping 78% of people think there should be more national programs to educate children and teens about the political process. *hand up* – AND ADULTS.
On the flip-side of all of this, 35% of people think the minimum voting age for national elections should be raised to 21. Seem unfair, since many 18, and even 16 years old’s are working, and might like to have a voice – since they are also paying taxes.
Three Good Reasons Kids Should Be Allowed To Vote
It actually might be cool if kids could vote, though. Because I think they would probably vote to expand healthcare to cover cooties. And negative campaign ads would only allow candidates to call each other “poopy face!” And of course, whoever loses the election would get slimed, on national TV.
Get out the vote!
