LOWERING THE MINIMUM VOTING AGE
"In the past, . . . those who pulled
the strings to manipulate political or-
ganizations did not want to contend
with an informed age group in which
'rebellion against the status quo would
have been far more than a mere pos-
sibility.'
"The inclination . . . has been to
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offer you everything — our coopera-
tion, our blessings, the right to advise
and to be advised, the right to make
decisions if they are not contrary to
ours, the right to fight, the right to
die on battlefields of our elders' choos-
ing — everything except the right to
vote."10
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D. In many respects persons of 18 are legally considered to be of age and are held
responsible for their actions.
". . . The minimum age for em-
ployment under our civil service laws
is 18 years of age.
"Under our Penal Code the federal
courts at the discretion of the Attor-
ney General may and do commit 18
year olds to a federal prison. Under
the Penal Code of our various states
the same is true and 18 year olds are
committed to state penitentiaries. I
am not in conflict with either of the
above laws; they are fair and just.
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However, it convinces me that at 18 a
young man or woman is emancipated.
"Our chancery courts grant the
chancellor the power to declare an 18
year old competent and, at his dis-
cretion, he may emancipate the indi-
vidual concerned. I am not in conflict
with this law, it too is fair and just.
However, it too carries out my con-
victions that 18 year olds are emanci-
pated. . . "11
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E. Participation in politics through exercise of the suffrage is an important aspect
of training youth for citizenship.
"In our schools today students . . .
develop an interest in politics that
even their parents may not have. But
when the students graduate at 17 or
18, they find that they cannot put
their knowledge to use. Their polit-
ical enthusiasm drops off. Polls show
that when they reach 21 too many do
not bother to vote.
"Lowering the voting age to 18
would solve that problem. Young
people would have a chance to put
into practice what they learn about
government in their classrooms.
10 Statement of Governor Theodore R. Mc-
Keldin of Maryland at Commencement Exer-
cises at Anderson College, in Washington
Post, June 16, 1953, at 7, col. 5.
11 Statement by Col. W. R. Watson, U. S.
Air Force, Ret., supra note 1.
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Teachers, in turn, would be put on
the alert and challenged to improve
training for good citizenship. . . . The
National Education Association once
declared: 'Reduction in the voting
age would raise the average level of
civic effectiveness.' "12
"There is no better civic training
than the exercise of the vote. With-
out the vote, all other forms of civic
training are lacking in meaning and
effectiveness. It is essential that our
young people take on political respon-
sibility as soon as they are ready to do
so, for the real value of education
comes from its association with
responsibility." 13
12 Supra note 7 at 10.
13 Statement of former Senator Hubert
Humphrey supra note 1 .
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