America today and the 26th Amendment

Adults don’t always make good decisions. But that doesn’t mean teens are better at this. Who deserves to vote? Should the minimum voting age be changed?

During World War II, West Virginia Rep. Jennings Randolph proposed that the minimum age to enter the draft would be 18, and Congress approved the measure in 1942. The slogan “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” emerged during that period and it was intensely debated during the Vietnam War. In 1965, Jennings Randolph, at that time a Senator proposed an amendment to the Voting Rights Act that would lower the minimum age to 18. In 1971, President Nixon signed the 26th Amendment, and this has been the standard ever since.

“Elections matter”

When voters with a conservative lean cast their ballots for either George Bush or his son more than in 1988, 2000, or 2004, it was impossible to predict that the conservative Justices Alito, Roberts, and Thomas would be instrumental in overturning Roe v Wade, and it is apparent from the state constitution amendment votes that some of those same voters did not agree with the Supreme Court decision.

Voters who chose George Bush and George W. Bush expected that a vacancy in the Supreme Court would be filled by a conservative judge.  Many had no idea that Roe v Wade would be overturned by Justices who were appointed by the presidents they voted for. Deep “red” states have recently voted against amendments to state constitutions and referendums that prohibited abortion. Kansas voted against an amendment, with a 59% result, that would have declared that there was no right to an abortion. Kentucky voters also rejected a similar proposed amendment to their state constitution.   In Ohio, a constitutional amendment that protected the right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions” won 57% of the vote.

 The votes that were cast 20 years ago, and those cast more than 30 years ago have resulted in a substantial change in the nature of the abortion issue in our time through a long and winding series of events.

 This shows us the tremendous effect of voting, and this demonstrates the changes that may not be realized until years have passed into the future.

 Participation in our democracy is important. The restrictions on voting are different in every state, but the Voting Rights Act has taken the right to vote as an assumed premise. The Supreme Court has intervened in the federal laws concerning gerrymandering and eligibility, but the simple idea of the right to vote is sacred. One restriction in all states is the minimum age to vote.

Should the voting age be lowered?

 The founding fathers of our country represented the admiration of the wisdom of the ancient Greeks and the philosophy of classic liberalism, who warned of mob rule. The importance of the results of our elections depends on an informed and educated electorate. But does this also include wisdom?

 A business in the automobile insurance industry takes no chances when it comes to profit.  They are allowed to charge rates based on a driver’s age. This incorporates the risk involved in drivers who are not as responsible as others.  This includes thinking ahead and considering the consequences of unsafe driving.[1]

  Neurologists also have something to contribute to the discussion. The amygdala governs fear and other emotional reactions.[2] Neuroscience is finding more evidence that teens depend on this part of the brain when making choices. When the founding fathers had a skeptical respect for the ills of “mob rule”, this was unknowingly part of their opinions. It’s notable that in their time, they excluded non-whites, women, and men who didn’t own land. As we have progressed, we now maintain a restriction based on developmental growth among younger voters. This is progress because it is based on scientific understanding that doesn’t include opinionated perception.

Raising the minimum age to vote has different problems. Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, television personality Jesse Waters, activist Brigitte Gabriel, and radio host Peter Schiff have suggested this change. The Census Bureau found that more than 22 million people are between the ages of 18 and 24[3]. Young people are facing a future where they have the greatest doubt of receiving benefits from social security than any other demographic. They are paying taxes and are earning a right to representation. They deserve a right to influence what that future will be. If we deprive them of the opportunity for too long, it suggests we are withholding the chance to voice their concerns.  

Clearly, no one ever said that young people would never vote. In a few more years they will certainly be eligible. Some very young people are remarkably wise and thoughtful.  And so are many young drivers. As a whole, the tendency to make rash or unwise decisions is more likely before a person gains years in their life. If science tells us that the brain is not fully ready for life until age 25, voting at the age of 18 is soon enough.  Our future depends on it, and they will be the leaders of the nation for decades to come.  But, their time is just not right now.

[1]  Policy Genius, Average car insurance rates by age & gender https://www.policygenius.com/autoinsurance/average-car-insurance-rates-by-age-and-gender/ January 5, 2023, acquired April 18, 2024

[2]  American Psychological Association, Brain research advances help elucidate teen behavior, https://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug04/brain, July/August 2004, Vol 35, No. 7. Print version: page 80, Acquired April 18, 2024

[3] United States Census Bureau, How has our nation’s population changed?  https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/how-has-our-nations-population-changed.html , May 25, 2023, acquired April 19, 2024