Why cant teens vote?

Why can't teens vote. Me, being at age 14 in eighth grade, I think teens at age 14 or 15 should be able to vote. The majority of teens at least in my town, are very well educated and informed about politics and have an understanding for issues discussed in politics. Also, my social studies teacher talks to us about voting and we generally have a good response in regards to understanding this topic. After all, the person elected may be in office by the time we reach legal voting age, not giving us any voice in our federal government. Someone please tell me a good reasons why teens, at age 15, should not be able to vote. I believe that our parents/guardians, teachers, coaches, etc. all treat us as adults, so why can't the government

Why cant teens vote?
There are a lot of things you can't do until you turn a certain age. You can't drive a car until you're 16. You can't join the military until you are 17 (with parents consent). You can't drink until you're 21. And you can't vote until you're 18.





Just be patient. You will get your chance.
Reply:I think if the Government can tax you that you should be able to vote for representation..


There are plenty of adults who are clueless that can vote so why not let kids over 15.
Reply:Lots of thoughtful answers. The truth is though, you may be more intelligent, more mature and have better judgment than most people who are of voting age.





The fact is, even after you are of age to vote, much of your life will be decided by the votes of people who are either stupid or evil. You speak of discussions on politics in your social studies classes. I hope that you will consider questioning whether this is really a good way of ordering society.





If you wonder why this question has not been raised in your classes, consider that education (even in private schools) is controlled by the government. The government has little incentive to encourage their teachers to challenge their legitimacy (even assuming that such a thought has occurred to your teacher - which it probably hasn't).
Reply:many people in your age group think britney spears %26amp; miley cyrus have talent. i'm not talking about you, but people in that age group tend to lack judgment skills. you've only got a few more years, your time will come.
Reply:The constitution was ammended under President Nixon to allow people of 18 years and older to vote in Federal elections although many states still require 21 to vote for state office (when I lived in Illinois, they had two separate ballots depending on your age!). Since then, however, the turnout for people under 21 has been so consistently below the turnout of people over 21 that not only has the government not considered lowering the voting age further, but has actually removed rights formerly allowed to 18 year olds such as the right to drink alcohol. Since 18 year-olds will not vote even when they are affected, there is no incentive for an elected official to stick up for them.
Reply:Teens can vote, they just have to wait until they're 18 to do it.
Reply:You cannot vote because you do not have any "rights" at this point. You are not considered adults because a majority of teens are unable to make decisions. At the age of 15, you haven't completed your education and don't have a firm grasp on the relations of history, politics, and foreign policy. Not being able to work yet (at least not much) thus not paying any taxes or bills, you do not have a grasp on how much domestic policy affects you and your wallet.





Besides, your own words give reason enough, "Also, my social studies teacher talks to us about voting and we generally have a good response in regards to understanding this topic." If you're taking your cues from your teacher, you aren't ready to vote. Voting is something that should be done after a great deal of research and after listening to many voices, not just one (and one that is shown to be biased, I might add).





Your parents, guardians, teachers, and coaches do NOT treat you like adults yet. Don't you have to have your parents sign a note for you to play sports? If you get bad grades? You aren't allowed to drive, how is that treating you like an adult? Like any other privilege, you have to grow into it and earn it. You need to know how to handle yourself responsibly, which is the idea behind voting ages, drinking ages, and driving ages.





You sound quite mature for your age, so this isn't a blanket statement on all teens. However, odds are, you are an exception and not a rule. Ideally, we'd have a system where you have to take a test to vote -- you know, you'd have to at least have a basic understanding of government -- and anyone of any age who passes is allowed to vote.
Reply:First, teens can vote, if they're 18 or 19.





It has to do with adulthood. When you are an independent adult, and a taxpayer, you have the right to voice your opinion at the polls.





If you are educated and informed, I applaude you. But most people your age are neither educated nor informed, with regard to the issues.





So be patient, your day will come! Hey, you'll be able to vote to reelect President Rudy Giuliani!





Vote for Rudy! (When you're 18, that is!)
Reply:As long as you aren't going to vote your neighbor's hard earned income over to a drug addict with 5 kids from "my baby's daddy"...I'd be alright with you voting.
Reply:Most people in the teen age groups don't have the maturity or emotion control to make good clear decisions, I'm not talking about you, but most teens are too easily influenced by poor role models and are not knowledgeable enough to understand current events, politics and so fourth, and allot of teachers these days don't necessarily teach good values and have a one tracked mind and tend to pass it one to their students.
Reply:Tell you what, let's revisit this issue ten years from now when you are 25 instead of 15. Chances are, you'll understand (and agree) by then...
Reply:Because teens don't form their own ideas and oppinions, they are socially conditioned by liberal social studies teachers to agree with the agenda they favor.
Reply:Not enough life experience.
Reply:Maybe you should be able to vote, but there are other kids your age who aren't as mature as you. Just wait, follow politics and become educated so when the time comes, you will be able to make an informed decision.
Reply:I guess because someone, somewhere decided that the age would be a certain age.





I my opinion, you are probably more intelligent that a whole lot of people who will be voting.
Reply:If we let 14 year olds vote, then what about 12 year olds? Are they often almost as mature as 14 year olds? And then why not 10 year olds? After all, isnt there a show "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?"


Of course, many 8 or even 6 year olds are nearly as mature as 10 year olds...you get the idea.


Most people under 18 do not have the responsibility of even taking care of themselves, let alone a family..or a nation. Are you, at 14 working full time? Do you own a house or pay rent? Do you pay utilities, food, buy gas or drive a car? Did you serve our country in the military?


Until a person has some of those responsibilities, they need to mature a bit. When I was 17, I was in the Navy serving our country, and I would have thought I should be able to vote.
Reply:the younger you are the easier it is to brainwash you... you would end up voteing for whoever your parents or teachers told you too.





some adults do it too.... its sad.
Reply:First of all, I don't think your parents/teachers/coaches treat you as adults. I assume you have curfews; I assume you have to obey drinking and driving laws; I assume you still have to answer to all of these people.


Most 14/15 years olds believe in what their parents believe--if their parents are Democrats, so are they. There are reasons teens don't have the same rights as adults. They are undeniably less mature--that's not a diss, just fact. You'll see what I mean when you are 18, 19, 20, etc.
Reply:As I read the other answers I see things such as emotional maturity and life experience and at first I felt the same way, but look at how ignorant most of the voting public is anyway.





When I was fourteen and fifteen I felt the same way as you do, in New Mexico at that time we got our driver's liscences at 15 and of course every 15 year old thought that was great. Now being 25 and seing the 15 year olds today I can't believe we got them that young. I some what feel the same way about voting today, but those who really care such as yourself are probably much more informed than many voters voting today. That being said, voting is over rated there are many other ways that you can have a much greater influence than your single solitary vote. Volunteer for campaigns and work to raise money, if there is a certain cause you want fight against find a group and volunteer with them. If you can't find a group start your own, looks amazing on college apps and there could be tons of free money for school if start up your own charitable group. Look into summer internships for the state department or local government offices, most of them have oppurtunities for people as young as 16, and you will be there before you know it. In the spirit of government of the people voting is a bare minimum of involvement, and if you truly care there are methods for you change the world, one person, cause or issue at a time.
Reply:Because you are too easily influenced by such people as social studies teachers. I'd rather you developed your own thoughts and wishes without outside prompting. Don't think you are at that stage at 14, sorry.