Proposal to Let 14-Year-Olds Vote Clears First Legislative Hurdle (This is NOT a joke!)

Sacramento Union ^ | 5/04/2004 | SACUNION.COM STAFF WRITER

[since1868]

Lets face it, this is perfect for the crats.All they need to do is show up on MTV and they have one there vote. Kinda scary

[AQGeiger]

Does anybody suppose that this is being proposed as a way to make it easier for Democrats to win elections? Teenagers have a much higher chance of voting for liberals, thanks to all the bunk they get spoon-fed at public schools and on television.

[olde north church]

Does anybody remember that Shelley Winters + Hal Holbrook classic "Wild in the Streets"?
View Wild in the Streets
"14 and Ready" or "15 or Fight"

[Biblebelter]

I see this as an upgrade to most who vote Democrat. At least, these boys and girls could operate the voting machines and would not be complaining that they voted for Buchanan when they met to vote for Gore, like those blue haired old Democrat bags did in West Palm Beach Florida.

[cripplecreek]

A rider should be attatched to any potential bill that allows the 14 year olds to drink, smoke, drive, etc. That would certainly change the minds of plenty of parents.

[El Conservador]

BRING BACK THE POLL TAX!

And while we're at it, let's bring back segregation in housing and public facilities!!! (/utter sarcasm)

[Not A Snowbird]

Isn't the age stipulation a Federal government law? Or can all states post their own age requirements?

If I remember correctly, this would not apply to Federal elections, just state and local. Californians please correct me I'm wrong about that.

Idiot plan. The boys will vote for the right to skateboard in grocery store parking lots and the girls will vote for the right to go to school dressed like Britney Spears. I know my 14-y/o daughter doesn't have the rational thought process that God gave a grape, and she's pretty well representative of her age group.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

is this for state or federal or what? If a kid has the right to vote, can they have a drivers license at 14 as well?

how stupid

[Mears]

Has California gone stark,raving mad?

[Sacajaweau]

FEDERAL elections have specific "across the board" rules. Local elections have local rules.

[just me]

Democrats already own the vote in California. Maybe they hope it will catch on across the nation.

[pogo101]

Exactly: Hmm, what critically-important thing should we work on today?

- tort reform? nope
- budget reform? nope
- redistricting reform? not us
- easing taxes and regulation to stanch the bleeding of jobs from the state? no, se no pueda
- giving 14-year-olds a fractional vote? DING DING DING

[newgeezer]

With Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition

No kidding? Who'da thunk it.

Funny thing is, just this week I happened to mention why kids can't vote to my (conservative) 13-year-old son when he mentioned the Canadian kid in his class who said "Americans are just a bunch of war-mongering idiots."

Obviously, kids are way too ignorant and impressionable to vote. Until they reach a certain age, they believe their parents. Then, when they get around to "spreading their wings," they rebel against their parents' beliefs (typically for no other reason). Some of them eventually wise up with experience and the passage of time. The others remain liberals.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

allows the 14 year olds to drink, smoke, drive, etc

dont forget 'and have abortions without their parents consent'. Oh, never mind...

[pogo101]

Has California gone stark,raving mad?

I live here and can assure you that such isn't a long-distance trip.

[EternalVigilance]

More proof that the California political establishment has lost their freakin' minds...

[coloradan]

Gee, if 14 year olds should have the awesome responsibility of a vote, how about the equally awesome responsibility of gun ownership? Come to think of it, maybe it wouldn't be that bad to tie the age to vote and the age of handgun ownership. The Million Morons want to make that 25 - if they allow it at all. Do you suppose 'rats would be elected without the 18-24 demographic?

[Sockdologer]

There's more going on here than meets the eye. Make them
legal and you can sleep with them. Right now, they can't
legally consent to sex with adults, but if they can begin
voting like adults...

[lormand]

"The others remain liberals."

Don't forget the "Roe Effect". Liberals have either aborted their children, or raise fewer ones than do Conservatives, thus weeding out Liberal thought within family households. That's the theory anyway.

[Husker24]

I agree, but where could we go. Im thinking maybe Russia, didnt they just pass a law allowing foriegners to buy land?