When the voting age has been lowered to 16, young people have shown our interest in voting. Until the 1970s, the voting age in America was 21. A constitutional amendment to lower the US voting age to 16 would require approval from two-thirds of both houses of Congress and three-fourths of the state legislatures (38 states). If the voting age were lowered to 16, then most voters would be sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school when voting in their first election. Young people make good voters. "The young people that I come in to contact with understand issues and they get behind campaigns," he told Newsbeat. "I pay tax as an apprentice and I have no say on where it goes," says Nathan. "There's no test you take at 18 which means you are informed," argues Samah. The Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and Scotland all have a voting age of 16, and the 21 st century has also seen Austria, Ecuador, Argentina, Malta, and Estonia join the group. The United Kingdom has considered lowering its voting age — Scotland actually did so — as has New Zealand. If the measure is passed, it would mark a major step in a growing movement to extend voting rights to younger Americans. Labour MP Jim McMahon believes the momentum is with his campaign to push forward a bill proposing votes at 16. The voting age for state and federal elections would remain 18. Some claim that position is based on a fear that not enough younger voters would vote for the Conservatives. In … Reason #4: lowering the voting age to 16 will strengthen civics education Strong civics education and a lower voting age would mutually reinforce each other to increase civic engagement. 5, 1890, of the South African Republic set a voting age there of 16 years. Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat, https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/925618428483796993. That isn’t much different than what happens when teens at 18 vote already, as most are either juniors or seniors in high school. Austria is the only country in the EU where 16-year-olds can vote in general elections. And their case is backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. In 1984 Nicaragua became the first country to lower the voting age further, to 16, followed by Brazil in 1988 (for employed citizens). The idea is not a new one. "I continue to think it is right for it to be 18.". His proposal not only calls for the voting age to be lowered, but for political education to be taught in schools. A lower voting age would make civics education more effective as providing students a way to directly apply what they’re learning in the classroom in their communities would add a crucial level of relevance to civics courses. Austria is the only country in the EU where 16-year-olds can vote in general elections. The Scottish National Party, the Lib Dems and Green Party are all on board too - but crucially the Conservatives aren't. Yet after a General Election where younger people turned out in numbers not seen for decades, the question of whether it's undemocratic to continue to deny 16-year-olds the vote is being asked again. Seventeen-year-olds Nathan Randles, Samah Khalil and Jess Consterdine, from Oldham's youth council, are a case in point. Leading the teenage charge this time around is Jim McMahon, Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton. You can now vote in the Scottish parliamentary and local elections at 16. In 1969, Harold Wilson’s Labour government lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. "If you are giving 16-year-olds the right to vote in Scotland and Wales, you ought to be doing the same for 16-year-olds in England too," he says. Speaking just before this year's General Election, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "You have to pick a point at which you think it is right for the voting age to be. Fifty years on, some believe the time has come to lower the voting age to 16. "I want a say in how much my education costs," Jess chimes in. The Welsh Assembly is looking at doing the same for local elections there. In 2013, when Takoma Park, Maryland, lowered its voting age to 16, registered voters under 18 had a turnout rate four times higher than voters over 18. And although supporters for lowering the electoral age say you can get married, join the Army and work full-time at 16 - that's not entirely true. In 1890, Law No. Read about our approach to external linking. Alternatively, state legislatures could pass laws allowing younger people to vote in their states. They pay taxes, but aren't old enough to elect the men and women who decide how to spend them. At the moment, 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds are too young to vote.

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