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.

[BulletBobCo]

Dogs should get 1/8 of a vote, and cats 1/12th. In addition, birds should get 1/16th of a vote, rabbits 1/20th and snail darters 1/32nd of a vote. Subject to Senate approval, of course.

Of course, RATS should never get to vote.

[walford]

My suspicious nature impels me to consider this possibile motivation for underage voting:

The Democratic Party is hoping to extend the franchise to a voting group that is likely to be on their side.
- The DP is the party least likely to enforce our immigration laws.
- Mexican ancestry is the fastest growing demographic and the most prolific. Thus they are younger and less educated - perfect characteristics for elitist demagogues such as those in the DP.
- This in turn simply incentivizes the DP to allow more illegals in, thus precipitating an increasing spiral of more of the same.

As it is now, it is become more and more politically difficult to control our borders, because of the rapidly changing demographic.

And to anyone tempted to throw any racism accusations my way: Yo tengo la sangre tambien. But the difference is, my grandparents came here legally, learned the freakin' language and BECAME AMERICANS.

[IrishRainy]

I think the movie was called "Wild in the Streets," or something....

[Thom Pain]

As a 60 year old can I have 12 votes?

[Thom Pain]

"Vasconcellos ...Kroknay-Palixz."

Are they citizens?

[david_the_positive]

Thank you for the welcome Dan.

I appreciate the points made on overall responsibilities, coercion issue, overhead needed for enforcement, importance of the right to vote, and in general, an interesting exchange of ideas here. I think they are very important and appropriate.

One thing bothers me though in US politics. When I was studying USSR's late 80s, I remember reading archival transcripts and memos, and one of them was of Gorbatschev (their president) talking to government staff, emphasizing that Soviet political life is still very primitive. Every side feels threatened and wants to neutralize the competition. In his words the west was much more mature and gave example of his visit to Spain. Right, Left, Socialists, Conservatives all in one room, not shouting talking and solving problems.
I could not verify his spain example but found the idea to be a powerful one. I find that people who are openminded in their decision process make choices that are above and beyond.

Are we heading toward this in USA?

With a two party system and 50% of the voters on different parties both of which have groups that do not want to work with opposition...

Not to confuse this with backdoor deals, but sincere listening and common decisions good for the nation and the world.

Should we aim for this? For myself I found the answer and it gave me more peace, optimism and constructive information.

[RGVTx]

Thank you! You are correct. I ran a quick search on it and here is the description of the movie.

"Wild In The Streets" is the best cult film ever made. It follows the meteoric rise of a rock star who becomes U.S. President and revolutionary leader (Max Frost is played by Christopher Jones). Max initially becomes involved in politics in a crusade to lower the voting age in California to age 14 (in 1967 it was age 21). After helping to elect Johnny Fergus to the U.S. Senate, he uses his popularity to get former child movie star and band member Sally Leroy, played by Diane Varsi ("Peyton Place"), elected to the U.S. House. In the wake of her election, state after state lowers its voting age. Following her victory and dramatic speech before the House Of Representatives, voting rights protesters are shot dead in Washington D.C. Max then enters the race for U.S. President. The rough and dirty campaign culminates in Max and his inner circle drugging the water supply of Washington D.C. in order to impair the mental facilities of the U.S. Congress. Congress lowers the voting age and Max is elected in a landslide. At President Frost's first address before Congress, Johnny Fergus' assassination attempt is foiled and consequently President Frost is granted unprecedented power and authority. He declares 30 to be a mandatory retirement age after which individuals will be given LSD. As a reign of terror sweeps the nation, neo-Fascist paramilitary youth gangs create internment camps. At the very end, the film makes a subtle comment about the dangers of age discrimination when Max realizes that children under 14 regard his generation as the enemy.

[RGVTx]

Maybe conservative California FReepers should refer to this bill as "Wild In The Streets." And set up showings of this movie. It might scare the reality back into some people.

[walford]

david the positive in forum -- joined 05/08/2004
"...sincere listening and common decisions good for the nation and the world. Should we aim for this? For myself I found the answer and it gave me more peace, optimism and constructive information..."

"... History has lessons for those who study it, openly, without prejudice. While we as humans have a tendency to rashly analyze things..."

"...I note that only a fraction of bush supporters on the internet voluntarily touch issues outside their passion and patriotism..."

"...now, all these things are a side note. important thing is that bush wins and we do not lose our edge..."

Excellent satire, thee who has joined FR in the last 24 hours. Perhaps you might enjoy this other forum:
discuss

[david_the_positive]

my posts were not intended as satire.

if you want a monotone rhetoric then consider bypassing my posts.

ignorance is not conservatism or liberalism. ignorance is ignorance.

[kitkat]

Well, let's see...if they're old enough to vote, then they're old enough to drive. So four 14-year olds could get a drivers license and share it.

[IrishRainy]

Yeah, I always thought that was ironic -- 30 suddenly doesn't seem so old when you're 29! And it's true...what goes around, comes around!

[RGVTx]

The ending of that movie left me chilled at the thought of such radical changes in our government system even though I was only 14 when I saw the movie.

I had forgotten exactly what ages were used in the movie and now seeing that the crusade was to drop the voting age to 14 in Ca. makes this bill seem like life imitating art.

[Beckwith]

Hell, why stop at fourteen? What makes fourteen any different than thirteen or fifteen, or twelve or eleven?

[Beckwith]

Hell, why stop at fourteen? What makes fourteen any different than thirteen or fifteen, or twelve or eleven?

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

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

"Wild In The Streets", starring Hal Holbrook, Shelly Winters and a very young Richard Pryor. Great theme song, "Shapes of Thing to Come" by Max Frost and The Troopers. From those great folks at American International - the mark of a fine film!

[RGVTx]

Thanks, I knew more than one FReeper would know the answer..FReepers are such a great resource. It was the song that came to mind when I was trying to remember the movie title.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I love that song - a great garage band anthem!

[Major_Risktaker]

Thanks for the POST!

Like others I read about this legislation a month ago and thought is was a bad joke.

Well, it look like it is the real thing. So let me introduce you to the face of the man who thought of this crazy idea.

He is called 'a pragmatic idealist', 'the conscience of the Legislature', 'the Johnny Appleseed of Self Esteem'

Serving his 2nd term in the California State Senate, after 30 years in State Assembly, representing the heart of Silicon Valley engine of California’s prosperity.

Let me introduce to you without further ado, the man with the craziest voting plan ever in the history of the United States of America, Senatorrrrrr Johnnnnn Vasconellossssss!

John Vasconcellos
D-San Jose
Senate District 13

100 Paseo de San Antonio, Suite 209
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 286-8318
Fax (408) 286-2338

I want to hear from you! Feel free to write, phone or email me. Or, if you simply want to register your opinion about an issue, please use the Feedback form.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.(Feedback Form)

Looks like he is after the Kiddo Vote!

[azhenfud]

"This is as asinine as the old 3/5ths rule for slaves in prior to the Civil War."

If, by chance, it passes, it should serve to tell where we're headed...