Empowering youth allows them to share their values, beliefs and opinions within society. MoCo for Change advocates for a lower voting age because they believe it will give young people a greater voice in decision-making.
Montgomery Virtual HS freshman Ishatta King said, “About 21% of the American population consists of youth. Such a large population percentage should have a choice about their future. i.e., elections in the government.”
“Youth voices make up our future. The students/youth of anywhere provide new innovative ideas but most importantly they are the ones affected by the policies/decisions made therefore if their opinions are not voiced no improvements can possibly be made,” Montgomery Blair High School sophomore Anuva Maloo said.
Empowering youth can develop personal growth and leadership skills and positively impact their communities. This can be shown through expressing their perspectives on crucial issues within the school environment, such as bullying, violence or depression. They can change their community and create a safe, positive space by having a voice and openly sharing their opinions. Furthermore, empowered youth can engage in volunteer work, community-building activities and local events. When youth are given a voice, they feel accepted and heard, leading to increased academic performance, self-esteem and participation in the school environment.
MoCo Students for Change wrote that lowering the voting age is essential “as it can lead to an increase in voter turnout and help create lifelong civic engagement habits.” VOTE16USA gives reasons why the age should be lowered to 16, including that it allows voting consistently to become a habit and allows youth to express their voice.
“I believe the voting age within MoCo should be changed to 16-17. Many students including myself feel that we have a well-formulated and educated standpoint on many policy issues within MoCo therefore we should be allowed to vote on anything WITHIN MoCo that is pertaining to us,” Maloo said.
“The presidential term is four years long, and governor terms are four years long in Maryland. Someone who turned 16 at the start of a term would be 20 by the next election,” King said. “A president can change a lot in just two years that could greatly affect them. Therefore, I believe the age should be lowered to at least 16.”
Maloo advocates for lowering the voting age in Montgomery County. “As a 16-year-old student in MoCo, I take many government-centered classes, specifically AP Gov, which constantly educates us on current and past political issues,” Maloo said. “At 16, I feel that many students are able to be well educated on different opinions and issues within their county and so therefore should be able to vote on what will be affecting them.”
However, some still believe in the voting age remaining at 18. The National Library of Medicine shares that certain citizens argue that “teenagers lack the ability and motivation to participate effectively in elections.” Furthermore, several believe kids under 18 are not mature enough to participate in elections.
“The voting age should stay the same. 18 is a perfect age because that is enough time for knowledge of the government to sink in and discover your beliefs,” Montgomery Virtual HS junior Hailey Ros said. “In my experience, I have not seen a lot of people under 18 that are involved in politics or are aware of how the government works. First off, our first year of an actual government class takes place (typically) in our sophomore year. Therefore, all the knowledge needed to make a decisive decision has not had time to sink into our brains.”
Ros believes peer pressure is also a factor. “In addition, it is highly evident that teenagers are the most susceptible to peer pressure. If the voting age were to be lowered, teenagers that do not have a strong foundation of how government works might just vote because their peers tell them to,” Ros said.
Empowering the youth through leadership roles and platforms for expression cultivates educational growth and sparks genuine interest in public policy. These opportunities provide pathways for young individuals to acquire essential knowledge and hands-on experience in public policy. Such engagements don’t just offer education; they ignite a fervor for understanding and actively participating in shaping the future of governance.
MoCo for Change is developing a bill to allow Montgomery County to reduce the age limit for voting. They gave their proposal to Delegate Vogel, who agreed to sponsor the legislation. King also believes they can go about advocating for this by creating infographics, or infographics in video format.
“MoCo for Change has already gone about advocating for it to be changed. Through various social media platforms, posts have been made arguing for the bill made to lower the voting age,” Maloo said.
Several practices can also support youth voices to help advocate for lowering the voting age, such as having more implemented youth leadership opportunities. An example would be a “Youth Voice” workshop given to youth workers and volunteers. This can also be done by utilizing social media for communicating and voicing opinions.
Empowering youth voices is significant in creating a diverse, vibrant, and welcoming community. It helps build various perspectives, motivates creativity, and gives youth the skills to problem-solve and navigate life.
“I am a strong believer that all voices are important. No matter what age or background you are.” Ros said.
Written by Miley Thomas of Seneca Valley HS/Montgomery Virtual Academy
Photo Courtesy of Washington Post