by C. Spencer

Created on: July 27, 2007   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

For various reasons one might worry that the 18+ voting law is a bit too liberal. Perhaps, it might be thought, we should raise the voting age to such a level that we capture people at a more advanced age of maturity.

There are, of course, some well-known reasons in favor of the current suffrage laws. First and foremost, we cannot overlook the fact that eighteen year olds are of the legal age to join the military and (should the need arise) to be drafted into the armed services. It thus seems quite wise to allow our service men and women the right to vote. To have it otherwise would be to open the possibility of having a military largely composed of individuals who have never had the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

Second, it is widely understood that a majority of eighteen year olds have reached the age of self-sufficiency and unqualified moral responsibility. Or in other words: they have met the standards for being considered a full citizen in the eyes of the state. Thus, to deny them the right to vote would require the state to articulate why and in what sense these people will not be granted rights extended to other members of the society. As the matter stands now, no such argument has been advanced. Since the burden of proof is on those who wish to deny eighteen year olds suffrage, it is wise to retain our current policy.

While these are well-known and rarely disputed justification for the 18+ law, I wish to propose a rather different idea that I think is equally as important. Namely, I believe that voting is what we might call a "constitutive element" of becoming politically aware.

Let me explain this a bit better: we like to think that voting is an act undertaken by citizens who are already politically active. And of course, in a sense this is true. Clearly those who vote are more politically active than those who do not. But the truth of the matter seems to be that voting actually contributes to the development (or added depth) of one's political consciousness. When one casts one's first ballot, it is an education of sorts, as I'm sure most of us can attest to.

As a citizen of the state of Iowa, I participated in my first caucus (a type of primary) only a few years ago. Simply being present at the caucus and watching "democracy in action" heightened my interest in the political process, the candidates themselves, and the issues at stake. I realized straightaway that voting is not a simple act (as I had hitherto thought it to be); rather, it is a complex decision that requires much forethought, investigation, and research.

Voting in the general election is also an important event that we hope our citizens have an opportunity to experience. After voting, one becomes very interested in the outcome of the process, and that concern takes a hold on one to a degree that isn't possible if one had not participated in the election. After becoming a "freshman" member of the electorate, the concern that develops typically fosters a deeper and more intense interest in becoming a truly informed and politically conscious member of the voting public. And that seems like something we can all agree is a good worth promoting.

As I see it, it is wise to allow eighteen year olds to vote (as we currently do), because it seems like the right age at which to begin this process. After all, during this time of their lives many of them are getting their first taste of adult life and responsibility. It seems wise to introduce them to our all important voting process at this stage in their live, since we can then hope that by the time they reach a greater level of maturity, they will be fully conscious and concerned members of our society.

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