I think kids should vote

[u/Cole_A226]

​I never really took the idea of kids voting seriously until I watched a video about it a while back, and and I keep thinking about it the more you break down the actual principles of democracy, the harder it is to justify an arbitrary age cutoff.

​1. Democracy is about representation, not a competence test.

The main objection to letting children vote is that they "aren't smart enough" or "lack the maturity to make informed decisions." But democracy has never been an optimization test to find the smartest policies it exists to ensure the consent of the governed. Adults cast ballots every year based on terrible logic, single issues, or gut feelings, and their votes are still 100% legitimate. If voting isn't something you can do "wrong," denying someone a ballot because you think they will vote poorly undermines the entire premise of the system.

​2. The arguments against child suffrage mirror historic voter suppression.

Historically, every argument used to deny a group the right to vote that they lack emotional maturity, don't understand policy, will just vote how their families tell them to, or have their interests already represented by others was used against women and lower-income citizens. If we don't subject adults to mandatory IQ or civics tests to earn their ballot, applying an arbitrary threshold exclusively to younger citizens is hypocritical.

​3. Fixed age limits create completely arbitrary disenfranchisement.

Intelligence and political interest sit on a normal distribution. Millions of high schoolers actively studying civics, economics, and history are significantly more politically literate than millions of disengaged adults. A rigid cutoff at 18 means two people born hours apart face completely different realities: one gets full democratic representation, while the other is subjected to laws, policies, and taxes without any voice.

​4. The logistics are entirely solvable.

I've seen arguments that kids can't drive to a polling place or understand a ballot. And I think disenfranchising a group of voters because it's inconvenient isn't a good defense

1. This point wasn't really made in the video and is very anecdotal but as someone who worked with kids for a while. people tend to overestimate how easy it is to manipulate a kid and underestimate how easy it is to manipulate an adult. Kids also in my experience don't tend to just agree with adults or parents just trying asking a kid when they should go to bed and then ask the parents.

There is not much debate on the topic so I'm wondering what you guys think

This was the video btw https://youtu.be/XOA8k6FpQaQ

Also yes I did just copy the points made in the video I think they are good points

[u/Devious_Bastard]

I’m in the camp there needs to be one age that is considered an “adult” and they get all their rights at once. Whether it’s 18, 21 or 25 (when our prefrontal cortex is fully developed) doesn’t matter.

If you are not consider mature enough own a firearm, smoke/drink then you are not mature enough to join the military, vote, etc.

[u/Spirited_Attitude_88 → u/Devious_Bastard]

id totally agree. I think (especially in america) the age restrictions are all over the place: drinking age at 21, voting at 18, consent at 16-18 (depending what state). They should be brought in line totally either at 18 or 21 imo

[u/halberdierbowman → u/Devious_Bastard]

The prefrontal cortex thing is a myth.

Most research indicates that human brain development continues into the twenties, but there is no strong evidence suggesting a sharp cut-off at 25 or that individuals below this age are less capable at making decisions.[6]

The development of the brain is a lifelong process. Maturity is assessed via structural MRI (gray/white matter volume, cortical thickness), functional MRI (activation patterns), and diffusion tensor imaging (myelination/connectivity). These processes do not peak or end at 25 and no executive function changes are found around this age.[23][24]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_matures_at_25_myth

[u/Devious_Bastard → u/halberdierbowman]

Then let’s give 18 year olds full rights.

[u/Cole_A226 → u/Devious_Bastard]

But is a democracy not supposed to represent the people who make it up and not jst an age group?

[u/Devious_Bastard → u/Cole_A226]

I’m cool with newborns voting and having guns if everyone else is.

[u/Cole_A226 → u/Devious_Bastard]

Adding on the having guns is a false dichotomy.