California lawmakers propose lowering voting age to 14 for state elections (Too Young to Vote)

©2004 Associated Press ^ | March 8, 2004 | JIM WASSERMAN

[D Rider]

California lawmakers propose lowering voting age to 14 for state elections
JIM WASSERMAN, Associated Press Writer
Monday, March 8, 2004

03-08) 18:39 PST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) --
A proposed amendment to California's constitution would give 16-year-olds a half-vote and 14-year-olds a quarter-vote in state elections.
State Sen. John Vasconcellos, among four lawmakers to propose the idea on Monday, said the Internet, cellular phones, multichannel television and a diverse society makes today's teens better informed than their predecessors.
The idea requires two-thirds approval by the Legislature to appear on the November ballot.

"When we gave the vote to those who didn't own property, then to women, then to persons of all colors, we added to the richness of our democratic dialogue and our own nation's integrity and its model for the world," Vasconcellos said, calling it time to further extend the vote.

A Republican colleague said it was "the nuttiest idea I've ever heard."

Said Assemblyman Ray Haynes: "There's a reason why 14-year-olds and 16-year-olds don't vote. They are not adults. They are not mature enough. They are easily deceived by political charlatans."

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

"If we could vote, politicians would see us as votes, not just kids, and they would take our issues seriously," said Robert Reynolds, a student at Berkeley High School.

©2004 Associated Press  

[D Rider]

Hey I saw that Movie! It was "Wild in the Streets", 1968. Starring Ed Begley, Sr., Hal Holbrook, Christopher Jones, Diane Varsi, Shelley Winters.

Didn't ever think someone would seriously consider dropping the voting age to 14. Then again, State Sen. John Vasconcellos must have seen the movie since he only wants to give 14 year olds a quarter vote. Enough to secure a Democratic Margin forever, but not enough to give them real power. This is a NEA powerhouse proposal!

[John Jorsett]

Anyone remember the movie Logan's Run? I bet that society started by giving the franchise to 14 year olds ...

[Terpfen]

"State Sen. John Vasconcellos, among four lawmakers to propose the idea on Monday, said the Internet, cellular phones, multichannel television and a diverse society makes today's teens better informed than their predecessors."

This guy is a moron. The portability and distribution of items like cell phones makes the teens in question more informed about their social lives and less informed overall about politics.

I wonder if next we'll give infants 1/32 of a vote? Does this mean a fetus gets 1/64 of a vote? And if a fetus gets 1/64 of a vote, does that mean Democrats will realize that a fetus is a living being, or will they chalk those votes up in their "dead voter" column?

[GeronL]

I think we should raise the voting age

[GeronL]

and they would take our issues seriously," said Robert Reynolds

OUR ISSUES??? What exactly is an issue for a 14-year old??

[breakem]

They are not mature enough. They are easily deceived by political charlatans." Good description of the average dem.

[Paleo Conservative]

Already posted here.

California lawmakers propose lowering voting age to 14

[D Rider]

Anyone remember the movie Logan's Run? I bet that society started by giving the franchise to 14 year olds ...

In Wild in the Streets it was "Don't trust anyone over 30."

Wasn't Logans run something like get rid of anyone over 30? You make a good point.

[RWR8189]

Maybe we should work on actually getting "adults" to vote???

[GOP_Proud]

I was furious that the voting age was lowered to 18...the year I turned 21.

[D Rider]

Already posted here.

Damm! I hate to be a second poster!

[prophetic]

and of course if you vote DEMOCRAT then the nice lady at the exit door will give you a nice batch of Pokeman trading cards and a Playstation game.

[Kuksool]

The NEA will gladly educate children on how to properly vote. We need campaign fiance reform in government schools.