LOWERING THE MINIMUM VOTING AGE
"... I imagine that the arguments
which are now offered against extend-
ing the vote to 18 year olds are similar
to those once offered against woman
suffrage. I am sure it was once
fashionable to argue, among young
men, that women had no place in
public affairs; that they did not know
enough about political issues; and
that, therefore, the franchise would
be accorded to a group incapable of
making intelligent choices and deci-
sions. Experience has demonstrated
that these fears were unfounded and
I am confident that several years from
now we shall see that similar fears
were equally unfounded with regard
to the voting ability of our 18 year
olds. . . ."3
"The young people of this genera-
tion are better prepared educationally
for political responsibility at the age
of 18 than were the Americans of
previous generations. We do not have
very complete figures on the educa-
tion of our population prior to the
1940 census, but even comparisons
with the year 1940 tend to highlight
|
our progress toward the preparation
of our youth for civic responsibility.
In 1940, 14.1 per cent of Americans
completed high school; 4.6 per cent
completed college. In 1950, 20.2 per
cent of Americans completed high
school, 6 per cent completed college.
Also, the intensity of living for young
people today is something that surely
prepares them for mature political
responsibility."4
". . . The education resulting from
the mandatory teaching of United
States and world history, civics, gov-
ernment, and economics is often more
evident at the time of graduation from
high school and during the early years
of college than in any other time in a
person's life. Added to this is the cer-
tain knowledge that a world of edu-
cation is gained by many millions of
young men through the medium of
military service. These factors com-
bined, provide a wealth of potential
clear thinking voters who can and
should assist the Nation in choosing
its leadership."5
|
B. Idealism and enthusiasm among youthful voters would have a beneficial in-
fluence on the conduct of government.
"... I think a vast new multitude
of new voters, if it had any balancing
effect on the electorate at all, would
be an effect in the direction of more
idealism and less cynicism in the deci-
sions of government. . . .
"Unfortunately today there is a
widespread apathy toward the prob-
lems of our unstable and abnormal
world. It is too widespread an apathy
even though public interest is picking
up over what it was a quarter of a
3 Statement of former Senator Blair Moody,
supra note 1.
|
century ago. Four years ago just a
little over 50 per cent of America's
voters took part in the presidential
election. Again in 1950, a so-called
off-year election, less than half of the
eligible electorate took the trouble to
vote. It seems to me, therefore, that
we can well use the spark and enthu-
siasm which our young people would
contribute to the American political
scene. We can well use the idealism
4 Statement of former Senator Hubert
Humphrey, supra note 1.
5 Statement of Rufus H. Watson, National
Legislative Director of amvets, supra note 1.
53
|
|
 |
