Voting is a vital duty of every citizen for any democratic country, and as Pew Research Center reports, 42% of the Americans surveyed believe that “voting is a privilege that comes with responsibilities and can be limited if adult U.S. citizens don’t meet some requirements.” The voting age in most areas (including San Francisco) is currently set at 18, but many believe that it should be lowered to 16. 

An effort to lower the voting age to 16 was defeated by a narrow margin when it was placed on the San Francisco ballot in 2020, with only 49.2% of voters wanting 16-year-olds to vote. 

Boston is facing a similar issue: people want to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. Boston City Councilmember Kenzie Bok said, "it’s almost as if we’re minimizing turnout by offering eligibility to vote at 18.” That makes no sense at all. 16- and 17-year-olds have never been allowed to vote, and there is a good reason for that: they lack the maturity and critical thinking required. The reason they are not treated the same as adults is that they AREN'T adults. So why should we pretend that they are?

The activists at Vote16SF say that voting is a matter of research and habit, and the more time one has to practice this habit, the more likely they are to stick with it. It is true that establishing strong habits is important. However, lowering the age would not be the best solution. 16-year-olds have less world experience than adults, and as such they do not have enough nuance in their perspectives to effectively participate in elections.

Some people argue that 16 and 17 years of age are perfect times for people to learn new things and understand more about the world around them. This is true! They should definitely be encouraged to learn more about government, democracy, and policies. This way they will have the knowledge they need so they can apply it appropriately when they are old enough. 

Some 16-year-olds may display interest in voting, but ultimately, interest is not the same as readiness. If you asked a five-year-old if they wanted to drive a car, and they responded with enthusiasm, this would not mean that they were mature enough to handle the responsibility. And voting is a tremendous responsibility. It is how people shape the future of our government, and it isn't child's play.

Keeping the voting age consistent at 18 gives enough time for a more mature opinion to be formulated, after sufficient brain development has taken place. There is no compelling reason to lower the age now, or in the future.