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.

[david_the_positive]

I appreciate the concern of a runaway train here but feel this idea of children 14+ getting fractioned vote has potential.

Do we adults pay attention to teenage issues? I do not recall any too many skateparks with signs "no skateboarding allowed" on school grounds and parks.

I had the privilege to travel and see different parts of the country and the world as a teenager, including one semester at LA public in mid 90s.

LA had a dismal approach to organized teenage sports when I was there. It was absent at junior-high level, and at high school it resembled college level competition/selection.

Average class was about 30 kids. Largest was about double that and held in an auditorium.

Another point: Are teenagers represented in current issues? Are the Media giants having their rights violated, and pornography falling into the wrong hands the only sides to the p2p story?

Third point: Adult population reacts plenty to commercial glitter, so why the thoughts that adding kids to the voting public would spoil this gene pool?

Those who don't fail are those who don't do anything.
I feel its worth a vote. If it passes and helps our society, good. No, then we learn our lesson and move on.

[Dan from Michigan]

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

Bad arguement, since they do pay taxes.

[South40]

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

Excellent point.

If they really want to laugh they should consider what Georgia gave America...Jimmah Carter.

[ChiMark]

This is more than absurd. An attempt by the left to totally destroy our democratic republic. Voting is on of the most sacred privileges a citizen can exercise. The left is doing all it can to discredit democracy as under the smoke screen of "civil liberities".

[Dan from Michigan]

Welcome aboard.

fractioned vote has potential.
Why a fractioned vote? As far as I'm concerned, it should be all or nothing on that. Also, how will this affect reapproportionment during redistricting? Will 14 year olds be an 1/8 of a person?

Do we adults pay attention to teenage issues?
Probably about as much as the East Lansing city council(democrats) pay attention to the college students there, all of which who can vote. Up there I was still treated as a kid, while I was treated as the adult I am when I moved back to an apartment in my county. When I was in EL, the building inspector could inspect inside the apartments and write tickets to the tenants for things as stupid as an extension cord on the ground.

Adult population reacts plenty to commercial glitter, so why the thoughts that adding kids to the voting public would spoil this gene pool?

I don't think as much as some think(I always remind the board that the most democrat group of anyone is senior citizens)

I don't even have a problem with lowering the age of majority overall, but it can't be just the voting age. The age of majority should cover signing contracts, smoking, drinking, able to move out of parent's house, joining the military, buying a firearm, and be legal adults in the fullest extent.

I wish I could have voted at 17. I was 2 months two young, and would have voted for Dole.(Who won the high school mock election)

[Politicalmom]

Besides, the dogs should be docked because of all the drool on the ballot...

[ApplegateRanch]

And if it goes all the way, how long before the civil rights suits start?

"Unfair One person, one vote; only half wits deserve half votes!"

"This violates my right to equal protection, because not all voters are given equal votes."

I can just see the Supremes singing about it. If they do, I hope they don't hit a sour note, but invalidate the whole thing

Also, will students be given the same protections against coercion by teachers, that employees receive against coercion by their employers?

Or is it just a way to give the NEA extra votes, come bond election time?

[armyboy]

If this goes through how will they be able to track ages and therefore how much of a vote it counts for. Also i'm willing to bet that state paid brainwashers..er teachers will bribe students to vote democrat. i can hear it now "If you vote democrat you get an A if you vote republican you get an F and an appointment with the guidance councellor.

i know 14 year olds don't have a clue on how to vote, because most people I know that are 18-24 don't konw the important issues.

[ApplegateRanch]

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.

While they're at it, shouldn't a channeller get an extra vote for each person they channel? All of them are adults, since none seem to be less than a century or two old, and some even claim to be 25,000 or so years old.

Since they are also very wise...at least wise enough to never give a straight, cogent, testable answer to anything...maybe give a extra vote for each century each 'personality' claims to be; a medium could verify it...

[Texasforever]

Only in the land of fruits and nuts.

[KneelBeforeZod]

too bad most FReepers who laugh at other states dont post their own on their profiles. any state has dozens of idiot maneuvers to laugh at

[KneelBeforeZod]

too bad most FReepers who laugh at other states dont post their own on their profiles. any state has dozens of idiot maneuvers to laugh at

[Graymatter]

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

I have to side with the pro-dogs on this. My dog will vote the way I tell him to. Can't say the same about the cat.

[bootyist-monk]

Considering a bunch of blue-haired idiots confused by a butterfly ballot threw the entire nation into chaos, this idea doesn't entirely bother me.

[Joe Hadenuf]

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

In the last year, I've seen about 8 dead cats on the road and only one dog. If they are not smart enough stay our from under our wheels, they shouldn't be able to vote at all. But if they are given the vote, they should at least be licensed like dogs are.

[Jeff Chandler]

From now on, whenever I meet anyone from California, I will laugh at him.

Twenty three years ago this Monday I got tired of laughing at myself and moved from California to Arizona.

[jocon307]

"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."

They don't even want to count them, as Al Gore once said to the NAACP.

[ModelBreaker]

Sure would benefit the party whose constituants have higher birthrates.

Uh . . . that would probably include the party that has a lot of evangelical Christians.

[Jeff Chandler]

I ran over a cat once. I was doing about 50 and the silly kitty darted right out in front of my car. The front tire rolled over its head, and I darned near crashed the car, it jolted it so bad.

Bet that puddy tat had a terminal headache.

[Greenpees]

Well,

I'm here in California, so perhaps I'm more cynical for that reason alone. But I think the democrats do nothing out of altruism and there has to be a hidden agenda. So here goes:

Democrats want to lower the voting age to prep new voters for future elections, and possibly swing tight races in present ones. Remember who teaches these kids? Probably 85% of all High School teachers in California are to the left of Hillary. They do have an agenda, and that is to program young minds into the habit of voting a straight democrat ticket by forcing thier moral relativism on them in the classroom. Can you imagine the pressure on a student who answers the inevitable question," Who did you vote for?" and he/she voted Republican? This is nothing but indoctrination.