I do not think the voting age should be lowered to 16. One reason is that most people under 18 still live with their parents and are often heavily influenced by their parents’ political beliefs, which may prevent them from forming their own independent opinions. Another reason is that turning 18 marks a key point of maturity because many people begin college, start working, or even live on their own, which gives them more life experience and awareness of how government decisions affect them personally. Finally, voting in elections, especially presidential elections, is a serious responsibility, and many people under 18 may not fully understand how those decisions will impact the country long term.
Some people argue that 16 and 17 year olds should be allowed to vote because they can work and pay taxes, like David Sharyan, a 17 year old who feels it is unfair to be taxed without having a say in representation. While this sounds fair, paying taxes alone does not mean somebody is ready to vote. Many teens still live at home, rely on their parents financially, and are heavily influenced by peer pressure. Just because someone has a job doesn’t mean they have the life experience or maturity to fully understand complex political issues.
