Freethought & Rationalism Archive

yelyos · 06-03-2003, 03:31 PM

What exactly is immoral about people under 18 voting? Why must such people be prevented from participating in the democratic process? What adverse moral effects would underage voting have on the society?

Why is it moral to prevent those under 18 from voting?

I personally am opposed to an age restriction on voting. What arguments are there in support of the voting age?

meritocrat · 06-03-2003, 03:49 PM

Who states it's 'immoral'?

To vote one needs an understanding of politics in general (and perhaps economics). Teenagers may possess that.

Would ten year olds? Or five year olds?

yelyos · 06-03-2003, 03:53 PM

Many people vote today without an understanding of politics or economics. There would be a lot fewer voters if only those with such an understanding were allowed to vote.

What kinds of adverse effects are caused by voting children? Who does it harm if a person under 18 votes?

meritocrat · 06-03-2003, 03:55 PM

It harms no one.

yelyos · 06-03-2003, 04:09 PM

Then why is it illegal?

Jinto · 06-03-2003, 08:39 PM

It's illegal because adults say it is.

yelyos · 06-03-2003, 10:08 PM

Better question: Is it immoral for people to outlaw child voting? Is it moral for people to strike down such a law?

If a law has no purpose except to limit people from doing something moral, then is that law immoral?

Doubting Didymus · 06-03-2003, 10:18 PM

You can't give children the vote until you have a pretty good idea that they are forming their own opinion rather than simply voting the way they are told to by their parents. If you dont do that, then any groups of people that have disproportionately more children than other groups get to have their electoral clout doubled, tripled, quadrupled or more for at least an 18 - year period of their lives, during which they can tell their kids where to put the tick. You need to set the age somewhere that you can be fairly confident that the individual is making up their own mind.

Having said that, I suspect that 18 years is a bit high.

everlastingtongue · 06-03-2003, 11:19 PM

I started working at 16 and was working full-time by 17. Since payroll taxes were taken out of my paycheck, I remember that I used to consider it taxation without representation.

But I�m much older now and see nothing wrong with 18.

yelyos · 06-04-2003, 12:47 PM

I am 13 and I support a different political party than my parents. Besides, over 18s vote for the same party as their parents as well.

06-03-2003, 03:31 PM	#1
yelyos Regular Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: northern suburbs of Toronto, Canada Posts: 401	Voting Age What exactly is immoral about people under 18 voting? Why must such people be prevented from participating in the democratic process? What adverse moral effects would underage voting have on the society? Why is it moral to prevent those under 18 from voting? I personally am opposed to an age restriction on voting. What arguments are there in support of the voting age?

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06-03-2003, 03:49 PM	#2
meritocrat Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 2,608	Who states it's 'immoral'? To vote one needs an understanding of politics in general (and perhaps economics). Teenagers may possess that. Would ten year olds? Or five year olds?

06-03-2003, 03:53 PM	#3
yelyos Regular Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: northern suburbs of Toronto, Canada Posts: 401	Many people vote today without an understanding of politics or economics. There would be a lot fewer voters if only those with such an understanding were allowed to vote. What kinds of adverse effects are caused by voting children? Who does it harm if a person under 18 votes?

06-03-2003, 03:55 PM	#4
meritocrat Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 2,608	It harms no one.

06-03-2003, 04:09 PM	#5
yelyos Regular Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: northern suburbs of Toronto, Canada Posts: 401	Then why is it illegal?

06-03-2003, 08:39 PM	#6
Jinto Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 957	It's illegal because adults say it is.

06-03-2003, 10:08 PM	#7
yelyos Regular Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: northern suburbs of Toronto, Canada Posts: 401	Better question: Is it immoral for people to outlaw child voting? Is it moral for people to strike down such a law? If a law has no purpose except to limit people from doing something moral, then is that law immoral?

06-03-2003, 10:18 PM	#8
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	You can't give children the vote until you have a pretty good idea that they are forming their own opinion rather than simply voting the way they are told to by their parents. If you dont do that, then any groups of people that have disproportionately more children than other groups get to have their electoral clout doubled, tripled, quadrupled or more for at least an 18 - year period of their lives, during which they can tell their kids where to put the tick. You need to set the age somewhere that you can be fairly confident that the individual is making up their own mind. Having said that, I suspect that 18 years is a bit high.

06-03-2003, 11:19 PM	#9
everlastingtongue Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Location Posts: 398	I started working at 16 and was working full-time by 17. Since payroll taxes were taken out of my paycheck, I remember that I used to consider it taxation without representation. But I�m much older now and see nothing wrong with 18.

06-04-2003, 12:47 PM	#10
yelyos Regular Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: northern suburbs of Toronto, Canada Posts: 401	I am 13 and I support a different political party than my parents. Besides, over 18s vote for the same party as their parents as well.

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