In most countries, the current voting age is 18. Should this age be lowered? Yes? No? Why? Discuss

I think 18 is a good age. Although I wasn't your average teenager. xD I knew a wee bit about politics.

I'm definitely not an expert on politics, lol, but I knew enough to make my own decision on who I wanted to vote for

Nawww

I say no, but only because of peoples attitudes to voting, only one of my friends voted during the european elections (i didn't as my papers never turned up), some of my friends didn't vote as they don't understand the parties fully, but others never want to know and can't be bothered, they would rather just be ignorant of politics. I don't think a lower age would result in higher turn out, just more spoilt ballots.

I think the European Elections are different. Most people are pretty clueless about them. I hunted online to try and find out each party's policies as relevant to the UK's role in Europe and I could find absolutely nothing! I did vote though. In the end I voted for the only one that bothered to put campaign material through my door (although even the policies listed there didn't seem particularly relevant to Europe).

I think most Brits are generally far better informed when it comes to general (UK) elections (and also for Scottish and Welsh parliament elections).

I think that the issues I worried about prior to 18 were not the kind in which I personally wanted to vote for a president. :/ Sure, I could say "I want him" but it carried little weight, and I remember being just slightly frustrated in the Kerry/Bush election--mostly because I was tired of Bush being president (and I was incredibly close to being 18). But, do I think the age should be lowered? No. At 18 you're considered an adult (which in itself may be a bit silly considering all of the 18 year olds I've come across) so you should be able to have say on how the next years of your adult life are affected. You're worrying about different things to a greater extreme: how your college education will be paid for, rent, getting a more dependable car than the junker you got at 16 and needing loans for that; all practical things. And if that's not your cup of tea, surely other things will interest you. No need to change the limit though. :/

no. i actually think 18's too young. at 18 i had no freaking idea how to vote, no understanding of the parties or their policies and no real desire to give a shit lol. most teens aren't thinking about who's leading their country, they'rte thinking about getting laid, drinking, up coming exams, friends, money etc etc. not politics.

I agree.
I think it should be like, 21 or something.

When I was 18 I was like 'fuck yes i can do what i want' and did what i wanted.
I didn't care what was going on in the world.
Few years changes shit

the first time i had to vote was a few months after i turned 18. i didn't understand shit, now did i care. lol.

AMEN! I'm pretty sure I voted hungover on my 18th year.

I didn't know anything about it, I still don't, I honestly can't be bothered looking it all up to learn.
I think voting at 18 is fine, but they should educate people about it more. You always see those stupid campaign ads baggin the other party. They should advertise what their party CAN do.

the info is out there, but what 18 year old can be fucked researching party policies? i'm 23 and i can still barely be fucked finding out lol.

Thats right, it should be thrown out there into 18 year olds faces. Like on a porn site hahaha. I dunno, when it's time to vote, everything on tv about voting seems like a lot of bitching about how bad things are.
Porn is so good though...

i'd rather watch porn than political ads haha.

oh god pauline hanson. noooo!

Except Pauline Hanson porn... Eww