California lawmakers propose lowering voting age to 14

AP ^ | 3/8/04 | Jim Wasserman

[BurbankKarl]

Millions of California's teenagers would become the nation's first to vote under a proposed constitutional amendment introduced Monday by a 71-year-old state senator.

Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, proposed the idea alongside three other lawmakers, saying the Internet, cellular phones, multichannel television and a diverse society makes today's teens better informed than generations of their predecessors.

[BurbankKarl]

I can't believe they actually spent time introducing this....part of the first step of NAMBLA....give them legal rights at 14, then they can marry in SF to their sugardaddies.

[raloxk]

MAN!!!!!!

didnt think of that..you are right on the money!!!

[Paleo Conservative]

Exactly!

[KC_for_Freedom]

Teachers spend 5-6 hours per day with the kids in the age group being considered.

the time they spend at home is spent on homework, and play. Very little time to sit down and form opinions on the issues, but those who vote can be counted on to vote democrat.

[Poohbah]

I remember what I was like at 14. I was much better informed than my peers...but there is no way in hell that I can say I was mature enough to vote.

[Mark Felton]

This is proof that the socialist activists need public education to indoctrinate a new class of pro-tyranny voters.

It is outrageous that a man could even conceive of giving an immature person the right to vote.

We have already doomed our republic by allowing people to vote who do not own property or pay income taxes.

[nopardons]

You're right about that!

[Paleo Conservative]

Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, proposed the idea alongside three other lawmakers, saying the Internet, cellular phones, multichannel television and a diverse society makes today's teens better informed than generations of their predecessors.

I haven't noticed that to be the case. The teenagers of today seem to be even worse informed than the teenagers of twenty or thirty years ago

[oldtimer]

Californistan needs more rat voters.

Can you imagine what kind of voter turnout the NEA could produce.

Absolutely appalling what is happening to this Country.

[Oztrich Boy]

We should be open-minded.

This article makes me consider the merits of the idea of taking away the vote at age 70.

[freeangel]

"makes todays teens better informed"

So how does MTV, ESPN and the cartoon channel make todays teens any more informed?

[.38sw]

Student supporters said the idea could give them a say in issues such as education funding and bring new voices to a California electorate now largely dominated by older Caucasians.

Older Caucasions will have to leave the state if this passes, 'cause they'll be (largely) the ones getting the bill. And what does this statement mean, anyway? Don't older blacks, asians and hispanics vote? I'm really looking forward to having kids, brainwashed by their teachers, heading to the polls to vote. sheesh.

[White Eagle]

So if a 16-year old gets half a vote, and a 14-year old get a quarter of a vote, how much of a vote would a preborn get?

[pointsal]

Oh, massa pappa John (aka Sen. John Vasconcellos ) why don't you just go ahead and vote for me..... BLOCKHEAD

[Drango]

Vasconcellos has a quarter brain....

[feedback doctor]

Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, proposed the idea alongside three other lawmakers, saying the Internet, cellular phones, multichannel television and a diverse society makes today's teens better informed than generations of their predecessors.

ON the internet they are NOT reading about current events, current music yes. On cellular phones they are not talking about current events. On multichannel television they are NOT watching the news. The sources of info cited here are things that distract them from being better informed about current events. I had the newspaper and 3 TV channels. After I finished the sports and comic pages, I read the other stuff (news) because I didn't have a lot of other distractions. While I waited on my favorite TV shows to come on I only had the news to wacth from approx. 6-7pm.

[NorseWood]

In California, they are going in the wrong direction. Given the maturity of the youth and young adults the voting age should be RAISED, not lowered. Pretty soon, the Democrats will want to register their cats and dogs.

[truth_seeker]

I favor the requirements of property ownership , as well as English language proficiency.

Obvious other requirements would be citizenship, and no felonies.

For age, I think 18 is too low. I didn't really grasp the whole deal, until I was about 27 to 28.

[kennedy]

The voting age needs to be RAISED back to 21, not lowered to 14.

We need to seriously rethink the 19th Amendment too. Women voters elected Clinton and they almost got us President Gore. ;-)

[ambrose]

Why stop at 14? Why not 10?