Californians consider granting 14-year-olds the right to vote

Boston Globe ^ | April 25, 2004 | Bobby Caina Calvan

[sarcasm]

BERKELEY, Calif. -- On Super Tuesday last month, Robert Reynolds headed for the polls at the local senior center, where he politely requested a ballot from a graying, middle-aged woman. She glanced at his youthful face, and then brusquely turned him away.

Undaunted, Reynolds, a 17-year-old high school junior, then exercised a democratic right -- staging a demonstration with a handful of schoolmates. They chanted slogans and toted signs; one read, "No Taxation Without Representation." The group of six then dutifully headed off to class.

A week later, Reynolds was at the state Capitol lending support for legislation seeking to allow minors -- as young as 14 -- to cast ballots in state and local elections

[navygal]

What do you expect? This is coming from Berkley Ca.

[navygal]

I can see if a seventeen year old is serving in the military. Minors can serve in the military only if they have parental consent.

[Paleo Conservative]

This is just another way of speeding up the political impact of massive illegal immigration. The demographics of the voting population lag those of the general population which means there are fewer offspring of illegal aliens.

[Caipirabob]

I can just see the "free candy for votes" campaign coming down the line. "Your freedom for a Hershey bar - Look! It has nuts!"

*sigh*

[Lazamataz]

A week later, Reynolds was at the state Capitol lending support for legislation seeking to allow minors -- as young as 14 -- to cast ballots in state and local elections

I won't rest until pregnant women push ballots up their uteruses.

Fetal Sufferage Now!!!

[Semper Paratus]

Next will be free hip-hop cd's at the polling places.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Only 17?

If it were up to me, I wouldn't let anyone vote until they were 21 AND a land or homeowner. The Founders debated that one since freedom's ultimate litmus test hinges on property rights. They finally decided against it assuming we shared a common moral outlook - that ain't the case today.

[Lazamataz]

If it were up to me, I wouldn't let anyone vote until they were 21 AND a land or homeowner.

I'd further restrict it to include only people who have served in the military, own an American car, have refrained from purchasing any Hallmark products in the last 18 months, and who have made a substantial financial donation to me.

Checks should be made out to Conservative Activists Safe Haven -- C.A.S.H. for short -- and mailed to:

Lazamataz
Under the Fifth Staircase at Five Points MARTA station
Atlanta, GA 30201

[Savage Beast]

Any age restriction is a violation of basic human rights. Everyone should be allowed to vote, regardless of age, including newborns and fetuses. Furthermore, anyone who can vote should be allowed to drive (how else can they get to the polls?), drink alcohol, use tobacco, make their own decisions concerning drugs and sex, and come and go as they please. If children's parents get in the way, sue 'em.

BTW, notice how giving children the vote will give the Democrats an advantage?

[snooker]

New headline ...

Dims losing elections, more dums needed.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Their right to vote for what????.......What they're gonna wear to school tomorrow????

[Lord Basil]

Payroll taxes alone were enough to get me wanting to vote before I could :-).

[WorkingClassFilth]

Sounds reasonable to me.

[ARCADIA]

Well... don't they already allow the dead to vote....

[BenLurkin]

Tell you what - raise the age to 25 and drop the land ownership requirement and we'll have deal.

[Ukiapah Heep]

Will this be offered by guys in dirty trenchcoats lurking around playgrounds?

[Nowhere Man]

If it were up to me, I wouldn't let anyone vote until they were 21 AND a land or homeowner. The Founders debated that one since freedom's ultimate litmus test hinges on property rights. They finally decided against it assuming we shared a common moral outlook - that ain't the case today.

I'd also further restrict it to people who can pass a simple math test, basic literacy in English, and basic US history, although I might lump in a reading comprehension test too. Also, one cannot be on welfare and to rejoin the voting pool must be off welfare for at least 6 months. Exceptions would be is if one is a senior citizen on social security or one who is not able bodied but mentally competent enough to pass the tests above along with meeting the land owner criteria. For those who need assistance in passing the tests like if a person is blind or deaf (or whatever), assistance will be provided.

I also think Robert A. Heinlein's idea in "Starship Troopers" about serving in the military before one can vote has merit too although I think the conditions we are cooking up would be quite sufficient.

[230FMJ]

My cat reads everything that comes up on the screen, and now she wants to know why She can't vote too!

[Dutch Boy]

This sounds like the old movie "Wild in the Streets."

Plot Summary for "Wild in the Streets" (1968)
IMDB - Wild in the Streets

Max Frost, a 24-year old rock star millionaire, joins causes with a California politician to get the vote for 15-year olds. He continues his master plan by helping elect one of his groupies to the senate. Max and his cohorts resort to trickery to get congress to lower the minimum age requirements for higher office, and he's on his way to the Oval Office with his youth-controlled police state agenda.