Vermont town seeks to lower voting age from 18 to just 16

[pwaldo]

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/vermont-to...151000717.html

A left-leaning town in southern Vermont is taking up on Tuesday a referendum to extend the right to vote in local elections to teenagers as young as 16, but even if the measure passes it would still require the state legislature's approval.

The so-called "youth vote amendment" would lower the minimum voting age in Brattleboro, a town of about 12,000 people, to 16 from its current 18, the age minimum for state and federal elections.

The amendment is part of slate of proposals being considered on Tuesday as part of Brattleboro’s annual town meeting.

The idea was put forward by Kurt Daims, a longtime activist in the town, who said lowering the voting age would boost voter turnout and extend rights to a "disenfranchised group."

"Many teens have part-time jobs. They pay sales tax like everyone else. Yet, they have no representation in government," Daims said in an interview. "That's a terrible failure of our democracy."

In 2008, Daims was behind an effort to have Brattleboro indict then-President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over the Iraq War, a symbolic gesture that was approved by voters.

If voters approve the voting age amendment, the town could become the second municipality in the United States to lower the voting age to 16, following Takoma Park, Maryland, in 2013.

[sanfran22]

Lock them in while they are young, dumb, and impressionable. Sounds like the mantra of the left....

[Star_Cards]

I think 18 is the proper voting age. I see no need to change it. I wonder how many 16 year olds would vote.

[bryanATX]

I know I made nothing but great decisions when I was 16 (sarcasm button pressed). This doesnt seem like a good idea to me.

[sanfran22]

I think 18 is the proper voting age. I see no need to change it. I wonder how many 16 year olds would vote.

The ones that are bussed in with free pizza and ballot cards ;)

[shrewsbury]

16 is too young, even 18 is. at 18 your brain is not fully developed. but if you can be drafted at 18 you should be able to vote. so if we drop the draft age to 16, then let them vote.

[habsheaven]

16 is plenty old enough to vote. You all make it sound like voters get politically wiser with age. Have you read any of the threads on here? Not likely.

[bryanATX]

The legal adult age is 18. Minors dont need to vote. Why should they? Thats what student council is for. Sophomores in high school.....

[ajcorleone]

I think some of the threads on here are written by 16 year olds. But seriously 18 is young enough for voting in my opinion. They can start the brainwashing at 16

16 is plenty old enough to vote. You all make it sound like voters get politically wiser with age. Have you read any of the threads on here? Not likely.

[gsj68]

the last thing the world needs is 16 yo americans making any type of decisions,i'd push every thing to 21 if not 25

young/dumb they rhyme for a reason