by Steve Martin

Created on: January 30, 2007   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

Speaking from a British perspective but with a point of view that is relevant to this question whatever country's voting age is being discussed, I would answer as follows:

I have no problem with a voting age of 18, but with two exceptions:

1. Any 16 or 17-year-old who pays tax should have the right to vote. I started work at 16 and paid tax on my earnings. Surely, anyone in this situation has a right to decide how that money is spent. I cannot see the logic in a society saying that a 16-year-old should pay tax and yet simultaneously stating that this individual does not have a right to vote.

2. At what age can an individual be drafted into the armed forces in a given society. If it is 17, then 17-year-olds should have the right to vote. A government cannot say that someone is not mature enough to vote and yet is mature enough to be sent to die for his/her country.

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