Lowering voting age to 16?

This is the first I have heard about it, but my first impression is no. I am interested in hearing why some agree with it.

Nope-too young IMO.

My initial thought was no, but the bolded make me rethink that. They pay taxes, but aren't able to have a voice in how those taxes are spent.

There is truth to that. The tricky part is it's hard to say how many young people are interested enough to do the research involved in choosing a candidate to support. 

But by the same token, there are a whole lot of adults who are legally allowed to vote who are also guilty of not researching candidates or paying attention to campaigns. So the question becomes, is that a fair standard? Should we really demand more of the 16/17 year olds than we do of adults? 

I post this to elaborate on what I meant by 'vote properly.' Admittedly, part of it is a concern they'll just vote for whoever a friend or a close family member tells them to vote for. But even if they don't have someone saying to them, "You have to vote X because this family votes X" there's still the issue of not having the inclination to pay attention to the campaign because it's 'boring.'

That is true, but so do most people who make very little money, and I don't think that should impact whether they get a say in how the tax money is spent. 

That's a good point.

Nope. They are legal adults at 18. They can’t be held to a contract until 18, can’t serve in the military until 18, so IMO they shouldn’t vote until 18.

The age was lowered to 16 in Scotland for the vote on independence the other year and only for that vote, the rationale being, iirc, that it would directly affect their future. In reality the politicians hoped to be able to take advantage of this large section of the public.

I know a lot of young people and only two, who were studying politics, took it seriously. The others thought it was a joke, couldn’t be bothered or were voting the way their parents told them.

Imho our (Uk) schools need to introduce far more mandatory studies of modern politics, economics and social studies before 16 year olds can be given the vote. You can’t even get a library ticket without parental consent at 16 here!

The brain is not fully developed until around 28 years old.

That said, I have a 17yo who will be 18 by the midterms. He's allowed to vote in the primaries. I cannot even start with the research he has done. A minimum of 5-6 hours on our city council candidates. We both went to listen to the  7 of them speak a couple weeks ago. It is a rare day when I am the youngest in the room. Maybe 150-200 people over 75 and us. My son was so engaged and went up to speak with them after. I thought he had made up his mind (we have an incredibly good bunch this year - never seen so many good candidates together!), but there's a debate tonight that he wants us to go to. 

I wish everyone were like he, but even I am not and I am pretty attuned. 

Having sex with someone under 18 is a crime - for a reason. Some are mature and many are not. I think 18 is soon enough to vote, serve in the military and buy alcohol. 

No and frankly believe the age should be 21. I understand the rationale of drafted soldiers dying for a country where they can't vote - I would have much rather they raised the draft age to 21. I think 18 is just too young.

I voted no, but I would be in favor of automatic voter registration. Turn 18, you're registered.

My vote is no. I’ll also admit that I think 16 is too young to drive a car too. I didn’t let ds even think about driving until he was 18.

Should 16 year olds be allowed to buy guns also?

I'm a no way for the voting (or for gun purchases).