Bill To Lower Voting Age To 14 Passes Senate Committee

VacavilleNews.com ^ | 2:02 am PT, Friday, May 7, 2004 | Bay City News Service

[musical_airman]

A bill designed to get youth more involved in the elections process passed the state Senate Committee on Elections and Reappointment on Wednesday.

SB 1606 by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, would lower the state's legal voting age to 14. The catch is that it would take four 14 or 15 year olds to make up a whole vote. The proposed constitutional amendment would give 14- and 15-year-olds 1/4 of a full vote, while 16- and 17-year-olds would get 1/2 a full vote.

Vasconcellos dubbed his bill 'Training Wheels for Citizenship,' and says it is designed to encourage early and regular voter participation among young Californians by affording them a real live stake in the political process.

'It is so sad that so many of our young people today are deserting our voting ranks in ever larger numbers,' Vasconcellos said.

'They are simply not feeling engaged enough to attract them into the regular practice and habit of voting, to participate in their own self-determination. And self-determination is the glory and thrill of our American way of government, and of life itself.'

While the legislation has received support from the National Youth Rights Association, opponents fear that granting only fractions of votes to under-18 voters could constitute a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

In addition, concerns have risen about the logistics involved in conducting and administering an election incorporating fractionalized votes.

The increase of ballots for the three separate age categories, as well as costs associated with development, certification, procurement and installation of vote counting software to accurately apportion the votes cast is a large part of implementing the bill. Further training and added responsibilities for already overburdened poll workers is the other part, opponents say.

Statistics have shown that voter turnout among those in the 18-25 age group is the lowest of any age demographic, signaling a problem that Vasconcellos says will only be magnified in the years to come.

The senator believes that if young citizens are given the responsibility of voting and introduced to it in a graduated, apprentice-like manner, they will be more likely to participate in the political process. His supporters agree.

'What Senator Vasconcellos is doing will empower youth in California and will inspire youth across the country,' said National Youth Rights Association President Alex Kroknay-Palixz.

'It's great that the senator realizes that young people have political opinions and deserve political representation.'

The Committee on Elections and Reappointment approved the bill Wednesday and referred to the Senate Rules Committee.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

California cannot even correctly count regular votes. How are they going to keep track of how old everyone is, to figure out how much the vote should count for? This idea is stupid for a whole bunch of reasons.

[musical_airman]

Boy, It is sure nice to hear logic and reason some days.....

[Free_at_last_-2001]

Really, you must be joking. This is so amazingly stupid... Maybe not so stupid young people tend to be liberal, it’s only when they get older and wiser do they become conservative, so as democrats shift more and more to the left they need votes to cling to power. So if they can keep delivering "progressive" education and keep the youth "drugged up" they can retain power.

The next step is to declare half or a quarter vote “unconstitutional” and an “affront” to the dignity of the young people and grant them full voting rights.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

SB 1606 by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, would lower the state's legal voting age to 14.

It figures he's a Democrat. He must think the indoctrination process is complete so the voting age must be lowered for Democrats to succeed.

What is the matter with these morons? 14 year olds? Even most 18 year olds don't know enough about the issues to vote. Would you trust your country to anyone who thinks Britney Spears is cool? LOL

[Salman]

Dogs should get 1/8 of a vote, and cats 1/12th.

I strongly disagree. Dogs are liberal, they like being dependant. Cats take orders from no one. Cats' vote should count more than dogs'.

[Nonstatist]

What percent of a vote would dead people get under your scheme?

Remember, the underlying premise behind giving the vote to people who do not "deserve" to vote (like immature, irresponsible children)is that they can easily be manipulated into voting Democrat.

In the case of dead people, they can 100% be manipulated into voting Democrat, and since they were at one time "adults", they should get 100% as much of the vote as an undead" person would. It's only fair.

[Fraulein]

Vasconcellos dubbed his bill 'Training Wheels for Citizenship'

This article reads like parody.

[South40]

35% of California voters are registered Republicans. That probably puts the number well above the population of the entire state of Georgia. So save your condemnations for the leftists who deserve it.

[nutmeg]

ping! (California Senate)

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[bluefish]

You can start by "laughing" at the founder of this forum, Ronald Reagan... Need I go on?

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Vasconcellos dubbed his bill 'Training Wheels for Citizenship'

This article reads like parody.

Someone needs to tell this dope that you are given citizenship at birth if you are born here, born of American parents, etc. No training wheels necessary.

[Nonstatist]

Dogs are liberal, they like being dependant. Cats take orders from no one. Cats' vote should count more than dogs'.

Excellent points. Lets have the Senate debate it! After all, isn't that what a serious, deliberative Body is suppose to do? What other issues could possibly have as much import as this one?

[Dan from Michigan]

and the voting age to 40

You want the country to go dem? Those in their 30's are most Republican.(and those 75+ are the most dem)

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

Excellent points. Lets have the Senate debate it! After all, isn't that what a serious, deliberative Body is suppose to do? What other issues could possibly have as much import as this one?

You mean besides raise everyone's taxes and spend more money on useless government programs? Like they say in Texas -- watch out when the Legislature is in session, neither your wife nor your wallet is safe.

[Eastbound]

"'They are simply not feeling engaged enough to attract them into the regular practice and habit of voting, to participate in their own self-determination. And self-determination is the glory and thrill of our American way of government, and of life itself.'"

Translation: 'We need larger numbers to scam the vote less noticeably.'

[Nonstatist]

This idea is stupid for a whole bunch of reasons.

But it's smart for one reason in particular. 14 year olds are more likely to vote Democrat, "The dependent person's Party", than Republican.

In California, a Democrat politician will do almost anything to ensure or strengthen the odds of his reelection. Almost anything.

[Wombat101]

When 14-year olds pay taxes, then they can vote.

If we extend this premise to it's logical conclusion, then only paxpayers should have the franchise.

I know! Let's bring back the poll tax and litteracy requirements --- only people with at least half a brain and the wherewithal to pay should be allowed to make decisions on how to run the country.

This would spell the end of liberalism as we know it. One can only dream....

[latina4dubya]

Oh no. Now the Olsen twins will be able to vote.

i believe they voting age now... 18 i think...

[WorkingClassFilth]

California, even if this doesn't pass, you are SCREWED! Your legislators obviously couldn't find their collectivist asses if they used both hands with the lights on.

GET OUT NOW!

[RGVTx]

There was a movie in my youth where the age for US President was lowered and the younger generation took over. Everyone over a certian age..50..60 years old or so, was sent off to a camp. The new, younger, hip President was out alone one day when confronted by a young teenager, maybe 13 years old. The young teen tells the nearly 30 year old President, "One day, we're taking over and everyone over 30 will be sent to camps." Something for these libs in Ca. to think about! LOL!

I can't recall the name of this movie, surely there's a FReeper that can.