D.C. Lawmaker Wants To Lower Voting Age

Londyn Mason, Opinion Editor

Council Member Charles Allen is trying to pass legislation to lower the voting age to 16 in D.C. after watching teenagers who campaigned for gun control and protested in March.

WTOP reported that Allen said “at the age of 16, our society already gives young people greater legal responsibility. They can drive a car. They can work. Some are raising a family or helping their family make ends meet. They pay taxes.”

Other organizations also say that at 16 kids start to have real responsibilities and voting should be one of them. Greenbelt, Hyattsville, and Takoma Park, Md already allow people 16 and up to vote, but only in local races.

Some, like senior Erika Jackson, don’t agree. Jackson said she feels as though, “We are too young to make big important decisions. 18 is a good enough age when we have matured to a certain extent.”

Others support these initiatives. Freshman Kayla Fenstermacher said, “I would like to be able to vote when I’m 16. Maybe Trump wouldn’t have been in office If younger teens were able to vote.”