Voting Ages and Other Items

In states, parties clash over voting laws that call for IDs, limits on where college students can cast ballots

Ahead of the 2012 campaign, states debate voting rights - Yahoo! News

This is an argument that can't really be won by the "old" contingent.

First among the reasons why is the end result would be directly taking away a person's right to vote in some cases, or merely limit their abilities to do so in others.  To raise the voting age would be regressive.  To raise it because they're "too liberal" is even more regressive and silly.  To continue on this tangent would be pointless; I've never supported revoking the voting rights of old people because they no longer contribute as much to society or cling to the past.

So let's jump into a different facet of this story.  Two important facts dominate here -- assuming this is directed at college students -- 1) election day is in November, which would mean a college voter would likely have to cast an absentee ballot if he is only able to vote at "home".  2) A student spends around 9 months of the year at the college campus, or otherwise not at "home", this isn't even taking into account summers spent possibly elsewhere for internships and co-ops.

Point number 1 -- absentee voting is essentially voting in name only.  You get the physical satisfaction of voting and having a ballot and everything, but really it only gets counted if the election is close.  It's like having half a vote -- your vote only counts if they decide they need it.

Point number 2 -- If a person is spending more than half of their year at a particular location, wouldn't being able to vote in those local elections be more important than those of where you grew up?  Sure, you may be more familiar with the local politics of your hometown, but couldn't the same be said for anyone that moves?  Logically this means anyone who relocates should still be forced to vote as if they lived in their old town for at least a few years, you know, so they can understand better where they live now.  In addition -- supposing a particular town has a bad relationship with its nearby college population -- what better way to foster a relationship than by forcing them to work together politically?

Young people don't vote a lot anyway.

Besides the "stupid, young, liberal, votes with their feelings" thing is a very hyperbolic stereotype -- I've known many a conservative youth, and the first national election where 18 year olds were allowed to vote had Nixon win in a landslide that hasn't been seen since.

I could say a few comparisons, but I would regret going so far with a statement, so I'll refrain.

-- Knuttel

God forbid we let young people vote, they know how to use computers!