As a 14-year-old student at LASA, I’m already thinking about the responsibilities and challenges that come with growing up. My friends and I are starting jobs, managing demanding classes and extracurriculars, and, most importantly, directly experiencing how political decisions shape our education and futures. That’s why I believe the voting age in the United States should be lowered to 16. Denying young people a voice in elections is unfair and short-sighted because a democracy that values participation should not exclude those who are ready and willing to take part.
Lowering the voting age is not a new and outlandish idea: Scotland already allowed 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in its 2014 independence referendum, and according to BBC News, more than 75% of them cast a ballot. Austria also lowered its voting age to 16 in 2007 with the goal of increasing civic engagement early. Part of the rationale behind the decisions was that young people should have a say in matters that will impact the future they will inherit, and there is ample data to show that younger generations’ voter turnout reflects their investment in political matters, too. Researchers at the University of Vienna found that younger voters in Austria often participated at higher rates than older, first-time voters, showing that teens can be just as active citizens as adults, if not more. These examples prove that, when given the chance, youth show up, get involved, and demonstrate their desire to be involved in politics.
A main opposition to lowering the voting age is the perception that 16-year-olds aren’t mature enough to make serious political choices, but, again, research says the opposite. Temple University psychologist Laurence Steinberg studied how teens make decisions and found that, by age 16, they are just as capable as adults of making calm, reasoned choices, which are the exact qualities needed to vote. Critics who say teens would make impulsive choices forget that many adults don’t always research their options carefully, either, or even participate in this civic right. According to a June 2025 Pew Research Center report, only 37% of eligible American citizens (18 and up) voted in all three of the most recent national elections. Meanwhile, many high school students are taking civics, government, and history classes, which means they’re actively learning about the system at the same moment they could start voting.
Young people are already affected by the laws adults make. Politics about climate change, education, and safety in schools directly shape their lives. According to the Pew Research Center, Generation Z is the most diverse and socially aware generation yet, and excluding their voices from democracy only makes it weaker. Many teens have already proven their commitment to issues by organizing nationwide protests, such as the March For Our Lives after the Parkland shooting, or climate strikes led by youth activists. This only strengthens the idea that teens are already participating in politics, even if they don’t yet have a ballot.
The U.S. has lowered the voting age before. The 26th Amendment dropped it from 21 to 18 during the Vietnam War because young people were being drafted but couldn’t vote. The slogan at the time was “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote,” and the amendment passed faster than almost any other in U.S. history. In 2025, teenagers face their own challenges from rising college costs to the climate crisis, and the same logic applies. If they live with the consequences, then they should have a say.
Lowering the voting age is not about handing out a privilege. It is about recognizing that teens are already contributing to society and deserve representation. At LASA and other high schools across the country, students debate politics in class, lead clubs, and organize walkouts. If the U.S. wants a stronger democracy, it should trust its youngest citizens to be a part of it. The sooner lawmakers realize that, the better our democracy will be.
