Feb. 4, 2021 By Christian Murray
Congresswoman Grace Meng has introduced legislation that aims to lower the voting age in the United States to 16 years old.
The measure seeks to replace the 26th amendment and permit 16 and 17-year olds to vote.
The amendment would require passage by two thirds of the House and Senate and then ratification by three-fourths of the nation’s state legislatures.
“Our young people, including 16-and 17-year-olds, continue to fight and advocate for so many issues that they are passionate about from guy safety to the climate crisis,” Meng said in a statement. “It’s time to give them a voice in our democracy by permitting them to be heard at the ballot box.”
Meng notes that 16 and 17-year olds are legally permitted to work and drive, and also pay federal income taxes.
The last time that the voting age was lowered was in 1971, when it went from 21 to 18.
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2 Comments
Yeaaaah, because 16 yr olds are mature enough to make such decisions.
I refuse to have CHILDREN to be making grown up decisions for my family and I.
They’re children for heavens sake.
They haven’t even lived life long enough to get the experiences you need, from all angles to make informative decisions.
They’re almost 18. You can’t wait 2 more years for them to mature a bit more? To live/learn more? No, you wanna rush it when they’re all emotional and easily influenced by society.
I see you, Meng.
Why not lower the age for holding public office, be it City Council, Boro President, Comptroller, Mayor, State Assembly, State Senate, Governor and of course Congress to 16 as well. Old enough to vote, old enough to hold public office. I hope this was just an early April Fools joke on her part.
Larry Penner