I believe that the voting age should stay at 18 in the United States. At 18, people are legally adults, as they can serve in the military, live independently, and take full responsibility for their actions. Most 16-year-olds are in high school and living with their parents, not truly recognizing the full extent of politics and the impact their vote has on society. Keeping the voting age at 18 ensures that voters have reached a level of maturity and independence that allows them to deal with complex issues, which they may not be ready for until after high school. Once they attend college, get a job, or even live independently, they can discover what they truly believe, rather than just following their parents’ choices. The right to vote should be reserved for those who are legally adults, not minors who are under parental authority.
In the article, some people argued that lowering the voting age to 16 would increase youth engagement in politics and would help increase the number of young people who vote for multiple years. While this sounds encouraging, participation should not come at the expense of informed decision-making from people who are not all involved in society. At the age of 18 or older, people have experienced the hardships and realities of life, and then make voting decisions that could benefit them and their lives. At 16, most people are still immature and cannot fully recognize the consequences of their actions. If you wait til 18, the more mature people could vote in larger numbers, and I do not believe many people at 16 would even vote, or they would listen to their parents instead of choosing who they want. Young people already have various ways to be politically active, from participating in protests to voting in school student council elections. By waiting until 18, individuals are more likely to make thoughtful and impactful decisions that could help their future, rather than making choices based on peer pressure or parental influence.
