By Brianna Fernandez
The idea of lowering the voting age to 16 has been talked about for many years, but it has never been put into action. The main reason is that 16-year-olds are still developing, and at that age, they do not know much about political decisions.
Jake Lebel ‘27 said, “I don’t think everyone should be able to vote at 16. I think if you are under 21 years old, you should take a civic test about the Constitution, American government, and politics to prove that you are capable of voting, and if you pass, then you should be able to vote.” According to past science, it is believed that brains are fully developed by the age of 21, but Lebel said, “modern science suggests otherwise.” Lebel’s proposal of a conditional approach to lower the voting age is contingent on passing a civics test to show their knowledge.
Derby High School Social Studies teacher James Piazza had clear thoughts when asked about whether voting should be legal at the age of 16, and he said, “Absolutely not, it comes down to life experiences. At 16, you guys are just getting jobs, driving, and learning responsibilities.” Piazza believes the human brain is not fully developed until a person is in their mid-20s. He said, “Sixteen is way too premature, too young until you have more experiences in life.” When discussing whether 18 is too young to vote, Piazza said, “It’s tricky because at 18, you can go to war. If anyone can fight for this country, I think they should be able to vote.” In response to whether a 16-year-old should be considered an adult, Piazza said, “It’s probably in their best interest not to be, so you have less responsibility and less consequences.” Piazza agrees that our school offers opportunities to volunteer during campaign season, allowing students to gain firsthand experience of the political voting system. Piazza said, “I would love to teach more about Constitutional law and things like that, but it comes down to people wanting to learn and caring enough to learn about it.” Piazza’s insights reveal a thoughtful perspective on youth voting rights, balancing concerns about maturity and life experience with recognition of civic involvement and educational opportunities.
Derby High School Social Studies teacher Spenser Butterworth echoed Piazza on whether voting should be legal at the age of 16, and Butterworth said, “No, only because there’s not enough life experience that teenagers have gone through at 16.” He believes that most 16-year-olds have not yet taken a civics or government class in high school. Voting at the age of 18, according to Butterworth, “Is a good benchmark age, I think there’s opportunities for more life and learning to happen at 18 than for 16, but I think 21 is the most suitable age for voting.” When asked about whether 16 should be considered an adult, Butterworth said, “I think it depends on the life experiences a person goes through by the age of 16. I think some of you are more mature at 16 than others, so in some situations, yes, and in some situations, no.” Butterworth agrees that the social studies teachers at our school teach about the importance and process of voting, so teenagers are better informed. Butterworth’s viewpoint suggests that while civic education is important, life experience and maturity are also crucial in determining the appropriate voting age.
According to Britannica, many other countries allow citizens to vote at the age of 16, but with certain conditions, such as being employed or married. In order for the voting age to be lowered to 16 years old in the United States, there is a long process that must be followed. First, an amendment to the United States Constitution must be made, then two-thirds of both houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate, must approve this proposal, and finally, three-fourths of the states would then need to ratify or approve it. With all of this, it would be an uphill battle to change the voting age.
In conclusion, while lowering the voting age to 16 years old has worked in other parts of the world, it faces significant challenges here in the United States. The fact that most 16-year-olds have not had many important life experiences, and their brains are still developing are key factors in suggesting that 16-year-olds do not possess the necessary maturity to vote. Ultimately, the question of whether a young person, at the age of 16, is ready to vote remains complicated and depends on the balance between cognitive readiness and civic engagement.
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