In New York state, 16 year olds can work, drive, and even pay taxes, but should they be given the right to vote? For all federal elections, voters are required to be at least 18 years old, and the same applies to all state and local elections in New York. However, the NY State Legislature bills have proposed to lower the voting age to 16 for state and local elections. This means that 16 and 17 year olds would be permitted to vote for mayor, city council, county executive and state legislatures. One proposal, Bill S1016, sponsored by New York Senator Hoylman-Sigal, states that all voters who will turn 16 any time within the year should have the right to register to vote. Along with this voting adjustment, Bill S1016 aims to ensure that students receive sufficient education in regards to how the government works, voting rights and civic responsibility. Schools will also provide opportunities for registration in the classroom. With the proposal of this bill, Senator Hoylman-Sigal hopes to increase voter turnout by inspiring students to vote early and make civic education more accessible. Still, whether or not this is the right decision for the New Yorkers is being questioned.
Supporters of this proposal believe that lowering the voting age to 16-17 will increase education in the government and therefore increase voter turnout. 16 year olds have many responsibilities: working, paying taxes and taking history and government classes in their high schools. As teenagers who are newly educated about how the government works, it is not unreasonable to consider their opinions and grant them this privilege. In 2013, Takoma Park, Maryland, granted 16 year olds the right to vote in local elections. According to a study by Generation Citizen, about 44% of registered 16 and 17 year olds voted in Takoma’s first election after this change took place, while only 10% of adults voted. Through the data provided by this study, it is evident that young people are eager to participate in elections when given the opportunity. If New York allows teens to vote while they are still in school and are active members of their communities, supporters argue that the bill will allow the state to achieve a higher voter turnout in the future, thus promoting a deeper public understanding of the government.
Despite supporters pushing for change, critics argue that teenagers may not have the level of maturity or experience to cast their votes. Teenagers are heavily influenced by their parents, peers and social media posts. Due to their newly acquired (and often limited) political knowledge,teenage votes may be highly influenced by biased external factors. According to a study from the National Library of Medicine by Markus Wagner, David Johann and Sylvia Kritzinger, citizens under 18 may lack motivation and ability to participate effectively in elections. This supports the concern that teenagers voting may be less informed and therefore not wisely cast their ballots. Without gaining more life experience and time to independently develop political knowledge, many are concerned that teenagers do not have the autonomy to influence politics.
By proposing Bill S1016, Senator Hoylman-Sigal hopes to encourage political interest and education in the younger generations. While the goals of this bill are recognized, critics warn that we must take precaution to ensure that New York voters are mature and informed participants. Still, supporters assert that 16 and 17 year olds are capable members of their communities, who therefore would benefit from civic education and responsibility. As New York considers Bill S1016, the state must determine whether the benefits of this change will be worthy of permitting teenagers over 16 to skillfully cast their votes for local and state elections. Whether New York will take this step has still yet to be determined. Nonetheless, Bill S1016 has already brought attention to the importance of youth participation in democracy.
