Have you seen the 2016 Presidential debate campaign? Do you think voters will elect the right candidate? Do you think if there was a wider pool of voters that the election results would be better? As of 2016, the voting age in the United States requires a person to be 18 years or older.

According to PEW Research center, about a quarter of Americans are registered to vote, but 23% say that they sometimes do not vote. Many older citizens do not vote on election day due to their working schedule, or inability to pick a candidate of their choice. Due to the fact that some citizens, decreasing the voting age to 17 years or older would be highly beneficial because younger citizens are more informed on the election and political related issues.

Many issues being spoken about during presidential debates and conventions, by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, affect the younger population of citizens. Issues such as college, healthcare, and taxes grasp a young person's interest. Not only do issues spoken about on television spark interest, but they also enlighten citizens on the standing points of each candidate on a certain issue. As social media and other social platforms continue to cover this controversial-filled election, younger citizens become very educated on candidates and have already decided on their voting selection by election day.

Why should politicians respond and care for the needs of young adults if they are not able to contribute to elections of the politicians involved?  Many youth feel that they are not involved in political issues because of the voting age. To fully accommodate the concerns and needs of the youth in our country, they must be able to vote for themselves.When youth are allowed to vote, they can feel more included in the process of electing government officials. In addition, many young voters are educated. By the age of 17, most high schoolers have taken an government or political science related course. These courses are beneficial because they explain voting and election processes in depth.

According to the Pew Research Center, 76% of registered voters feel that they do not know enough about the candidates or campaign process.However, the younger population of voters are more prepared to make decisions on important current issues based on their educational background. In addition to education, many teens take on responsibilities of older citizens. Numerous young adults have part-time jobs and may pay their own personal expenses. According to the National Youth Rights Association (NYRA), 80% of high school students have a job at some point before graduation. While they are working, they pay billions in taxes to state, local, and federal governments. This is one of the many arguments made by young adults. Like all tax-paying, law-abiding Americans, young adults should be given the right to vote.

Young adults are the future of this nation and without their input on certain issues, we will not learn to grow and adapt to the needs of the future generation.

Source: http://www.youthrights.org/iss...