Suffrage at sixteen

If you’re old enough to drive and pay taxes, are you old enough to vote? This month, Hyattsville, Maryland became the second U.S municipality to lower the voting age for city elections to 16. A burgeoning youth suffrage movement across the nation is taking root in cities like San Francisco and St. Louis demanding similar laws.

Activists argue that minors should have a say in policies impacting them, like funding for youth services and measures to raise the minimum wage, and that lowering the voting age will increase voter turnout. Critics say their influence would be short-lived and they lack the maturity to be trusted with such a responsibility. The Stream hosts voices on both sides of the aisle to explore the consequences of minors heading to the polls.

What are you thoughts on lowering the voting age? Share them below.