Hadleigh
Some 16 and 30 yr olds are interested in voting and are able to consider the issues and some 16 and yr olds have no interest in voting at all, so they just don't vote. You can be taxed at 16 and have no say in who spends your money on what. At 17 you can die for our country in Afganistan and have had no say whatsoever in who deploys you where. Give them the vote
lauren
Not all 16 year olds are immature. Yes, some go around damaging stuff, but those ones aren't probably going to vote if they had the choice anyway.
Cerise, Brumtown
i'm writing an analytical essay on this topic; i think they shouldn't be able to vote because they won't appreciate the changes
annie and noddy
IT SHOULD BE ALlowed!!
Duniya
I'm doind a argument for school asbout this matter. What I want to know is do 16 year olds really know the world of politics. Yes they can have kids, leave school and drive cars but 14year olds who love the rebel life can do the same. Does this mean they should be able o vote to?
Daniel
I dont think I should have to pay tax at 17, if I do not have the right to vote!
Raven(not Raven Sy'mone)
I think the age of voting should at least be lowered to the age sixteen. If the government doesn't let my peeps and me have our way, we gonnna have a dance off. Not just any dance off, but a dance off against the government. If we win we get to have our way, but if they win they get to have their way. Think about it ya'll, and anyways we probally have better dance moves anyway! Raven out.
Ello
18 id defiantly an ok age. 21 was better, but 18 is ok. i am doing a report in school about not lowering the voting age to 16. At first i didnt think that it really mattered. But now i see that 16 year olds are too immature, they are sitll under the influecne of their parents, they do stupid things, commit crimes, the turn outs weren't that big when the voting age was changed to 16 anyway. But i am still wondering one thing...Why do they want to lower the voting age?
sarah
the voteing age should be changed to 16 because we can drive at this age so why not vote!
ilx
how old do u have to be to vote for di pm
steven
what do u mean it should not be lowered i am tired of people not listening to us it is our turn to live it is our turn to fight.
Poppy
I think people over 16 should be allowed to vote, they are allowed to have kids, stop going to school... why shouldnt they vote?
i think it is wrong to not let people who often have a lot of responsibility to vote, at 16, we are old enough to have jobs... and pay taxes, why not vote? its stupid that we cant vote just because we are 16, most of us are leaving school and going into the "big wide world" in a couple of months, the "big wide world" thats controlled by people who over 18. we are the future, if we cant vote, who will?
Daisy
I think it is unfair to expect under 16s not to vote, retired people are allowed to vote for the party the will benefit them most, so why cant young people?
We can vote in parish elections, we can get married and we are expected to pay tax when we work, but we aren't allowed to vote.
There aren't many people voting now anyway, if they dont let the young people vote now, then we wont in the future.
Nicola
i think 16 year olds should be allowed to vote and not everybody has to vote anyway! so why not
ChriZZer
i think the voting age should be staying at 18 because i think some 16 year old would not be mature enough and there thoughts and opinions might be a bit over the top and there opinion might not be takin seriously....!
Natalie
I am 16 and think i should be allowed to vote because i am going to the next Prime minister for UK.
SO let us vote!
M aribel Moran
I am 17 years old, but i think that the voting age should be lowered. Simply because there are millions of adults that don't even vote. Also 16 should be the voting age because if you pay taxes then you should have a say(vote) in what the president is going to try to do with the tax laws.
Savan Desai
I must say, I am 17, and I dpn't think the voting age should be decreased. There is definetly a hudge difference between even a 16 year old and a 17 year, let a lone a 16 year old and 18 year old. I think that if you give 16 year olds the right to vote, they should also be given the responsibilities that an 18 year old has, such as being drafted into the military and finnancial independence.
jackddddddddddd
jaspal singh has 16 gcse and hes 10 years old he shound vote his responaible sterotypes whats the problem then
Karthiha
People who are under the age of 16 should be able to vote. They are a citizen too. the may not know much about politic but they still have the rights. Also people who are 16 buy taxes, work and ct. The should know what the government is doing with the tax money . So therefore they should be have the ights to vote no matter what age they are
Susana
Of course!!!!!!!!!! The voting age should be reduced to 16,and if it was i would definitely and get 16 year olds involved in voting. The gap of "maturity"between 16 and 18 year olds isnt really that big. How much more mature can they be? If we had the option to vote the voting turnout would increase at least 30%. Nowadays we know about politics and everything the politicians elected by ignorant adults are doing wrong.In addition it is unfair that we contribute so much to this nation, yet we don't have say in who rules our country. Therefore I think the voting age should be lowered to 16.
someone
i think 16 year olds should be allowed to vote no question. they pay taxes so they should be able to vote for someone who might change their taxes. also they are stationary and do not have to go to college maybe in a different state and be in an unfamiliar environment. there is no wrong votes and if people are so worried about all teens voting like a joke then they shouldnt worry!!! the kids who have no interest in politics or just dont want to vote will just stay home!!
jasmine o'conner
should 16 year olds be able to vote?i think that they sould not because most 16 yar olds arn't even mature enough. most of them arn't even interested in voting. they wouldn't undersant or know the poroperties of the parties and who to vote for. they are still children and they are stilll being educated in school. voting takes full understanding. they are immature because of the things they do such as skip school, do drungs, smoke and other thinds to. who would want a bunch of kids voting for someone who is going to run our country?. they should enjoy their younger years while they can insted of acting like adults . they don't own a house, they dont pay taxes,
and they don't have kids, so why should they vote. this is why i dont think 16 year olds should not vote. thank you.
may
80 year olds think they know all there is to know about life. Their voice is heard as wisdom. 50 year olds think they’ve done it all. Their voice is heard as experienced. 25 year olds think they are all grown up. Their voice is heard as mature. 16 year old think they can make some of they’re own decisions. Their voice is ignored as childish.
sHuShii
To other people, 16 still young but to me, they are already growing up, they have the right thing to say and vote...
Aimee
I don't think the over 16s should get to vote.
Although they may believe they are mature enough to vote (and a small amount of them may well be) the majority of 16 and 17 year olds cannot even find something constructive to do with an evening! How can we trust a group of people to have a say in how our island is run whom we cannot even trust to go out at night without causing damage to other people's property?
For every 16 and 17 year old who works hard at school or in a job and cares about the political issues there are 10 more who only care about looking cool and being able to get drunk.
We've already decided they're not old enough to decide if they want to smoke or drink so why do people believe they're old enough to decide what happens to others?!
bryan portinari
the government makes such an effort to have kids tell the parents to vote that the kids know whats going on and now they have a say in it
albina
No why should they be able to vote, most 16 year olds are immature.
>
I say 16 year olds shouldn't be able to vote
eleh
i think it should be at 16 because 16 yr olds are mature
love yoo xXxXxXx
Catherine
16 year olds should have a right to say and vote of what they think is right. I am 13years old and I think I am mature enough.
Jógvan Jacobsen, faroeman
With a very simple electoral system, my country, the Faroes, has seen election turnouts of 87.5%, 91.2% and 92.1% respectively the last three elections. Simplify the electoral system, and the turnout will increase. Maybe 16 year old people should be able to vote, but I doubt that they will with a complicated electoral system.
Claire
It seems to be some peoples opinion that all 16 year olds are stupid and aren't mature enough to vote. Well, for some 16 year olds that might be the case, but not all of us. Some 16 year olds aren't stupid and their opinions are more mature than a lot of people in their twenties.
Ross
The decisions the voting generation make will mostr likely have the biggest efect on people who cant vote! and if you dont know anything about the candidates its because you havent wanted to know, i think it does come down to voter apathy !
Chris Thomas
Apathy is a concern for all age groups..sadly. Why should the over 16s not vote, they can marry, produce children, work, drive and if in the armed forces die before they are 18. Many 16 and 17yr olds I know can have a very sensible debate on many subjects and why should they not have a voice...after all its their future thats being decided.
cause and effect
Generally.....people will vote if there is something (or someone) worth voting for. A few years ago, the Island elected a young Mr. De Carteret by a landslide; then the "old boys" wouldn't give him any committees on which to serve...so he complained (quite rightly). Then, mysteriously, he was tailed until eventually he slipped-up and was caught driving after drinking. Beware anyone foolish enough to try and change things on Jersey....!! Dick Shenton was too powerful, otherwise "they" would have found a way to stop him too... Habitot
Chimpface
Sixteen year olds know nothing. I'm 20 and I hardly feel I should be allowed to vote as I plain and simply don't know anything about the candidates or the issues. Now let's get drunk and play ping pong!
Curious
If you allow voting at sixteen, does this not necessarily imply that persons of sixteen could be elected and serve in the States..?? If enough motivated sixteen year olds voted n such circumstances, it is entirely conceivable (in light of the usual apathy among older voters)that the entire States Assembly could be comprised of teenagers...the "good old boys" would NOT like that at all eh..crikey..? As they say, be careful what you wish for..!!
Dave
A general election, and election campaigns run on the basis of policies not personalities would be sure to drive up turnout.
Sqn Leader C Gull
Vote at sixteen years old ? Most youths of that age cannot even string a sentence together, let alone have a say in how we are governed. I say let them work, pay their taxes and mope around town all slack jawed until at least twenty one before being allowed the vote.
Alex
i think we should be able to vote at sixteen. Just because our ideas may change later on is no reason to prevent us from voting. Everybody's ideas and ideals change with time, and if our happen to be x at the age of 16 and y at the age of 30, so be it. If we are responsible enough to work and pay tax, surely we are responsible enough and deserve a say in the way our island is run.
Daniel Monins
I am 17 and work 37.5 hours a week. I have to pay social security. I think that alot of 16 17 year olds will not vote. but there is a population of them who will vote. I my self would vote. Also i beleive if we could vote there will be more people runnings for the kids.
Chris
Vote at 16? Nah, I don't reckion that any 16 year olds I know care much for politics to make an informed judgement. But they are a small part of the population so giving them a say may have negligible difference and do no harm anyway, while making them aware and used to voting.
Montfort Tadier
I was happy to be able to talk to Deputy Roy Le Herrisier at one of the hustings, and it was then that I suggested this to him. As the previous commentator said, you can indeed do other things at 16 out of duty or privilege. It is ridiculous, for example, that at 16 you can marry, have children, take a motorised vehicle onto the road (pay tax?) and still have no say. The argument that the youth lack the "maturity" to vote (whatever that means), is ill-conceived and fundementally flawed. The truth is, the establishment do not want them to vote because they will make the RIGHT decision.
Meme
Why shouldn't we vote at 16? I work on a sat so shld get to vote
Renee
Are you going to lower the drnking age to 16 too?
Jon
I totally think you should be able to vote at 16 - you pay tax at 16 so you should be able to have a say on how it's spent.
Andy
Many youths are hopelessly idealistic. As they grow in experience they become more firmly attuned to the grim reality of the Human Condition (i.e. the idealism is crushed out of them, hehe) and then they become hopelessly conservative in their later life. There's well known saying that in twenty years you can go from liberal to conservative
without changing a single opinion! Perhaps if youngsters could vote it would go some way to counteract the "Don't Change Anything!" effect of the Older Vote :o)
Peter C
What a load of rubbish that argument is saying you are not mature enough!
People who are matyure and lived longer surely can be just as Niave when voting. if you are old enough to do AS/A2 or attend further education then you are responsible enough to vote. At 16 you are entiled to many issues that you could voice opinions on thru your elected representative so you should be able to vote.
Watch the