Speak Up! - View Question #302
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Question: Why aren't minors allowed to vote?

Answer: The United States Constitution addresses the age issue of voting in Amendment XXVI (26th) section 1,

'The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.'

Minors can't vote because our Constitution, which is the higest law in the Nation, says they can't. As you can read in the 26th Amendment above, only adults age 18 and older may vote.

Before the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971, people could not vote until they were 21 years old. For more on American Voting rights, see Amendments 12, 14, 15 and 19.
Comments
16 thru 20 of 69 comments
On 04/21/04
Rashawn from KS said:
I think kids under 18 should be able to vote cause som adults are less mesure than us kids.
On 04/19/04
mag from KS said:
I think that citizens under the age of 18 should vote. I think this because starting in middle school you start to get familiar with polotics. Though some of the kidsunder 18 are very immature they are usually under the age of 13. That is why I think that the voting age should be lowered to the age of 13.
On 04/14/04
diamond from MN said:
ok this is what i think abouit this subject. why im i able to be able to operate a veichical why cant i be able to vote for who i want for our presedent.
On 03/27/04
Leo from AZ said:
The senile and mentally impared are allowed to vote so why not anyone that can speak.(and the texans)
On 03/15/04
Chris from MO said:
Ok...i feel if you are old enough to give uncle sam your money, you are old enough to vote. My friend is remitting this year and he is only 16, almost 17. I think that it's crazy that the feds take your money, yet give you no right to have a say in where that money is going.
16 thru 20 of 69 comments


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