Ability to Vote

[disneyfav4ever]

Yesterday I was talking to a coworker who is very interested in the government and politics. But he won't be voting on Tuesday. Why? Because he's only seventeen. It seems unfair because he turns eighteen on Wednesday, so had he been born one day earlier, he'd be able to vote. I just feel really bad for him.

 

[JimmyPicker]

I don't feel sorry for him. The rules are the rules. It is a right you gain when you turn 18. He couldn't buy cigarettes or lottery tickets on November 4th, so he can't vote either.

 

[MinnieMe87]

Even if he was born a day earlier he still wouldn't be able to vote...You have to be 18 in order to be able to register to vote..So he'd still have to wait for the next election.

 

[Master Mason]

I don't feel sorry for him. The rules are the rules. It is a right you gain when you turn 18. He couldn't buy cigarettes or lottery tickets on November 4th, so he can't vote either.

And acutally even if he had turned 18 on the 4th he wouldn't have been able to vote because you can't register until your 18 and you have to register before you can vote.

The line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere, and right now that line is drawn at 18.

 

[mickeysgal]

His turn will come.

 

[Charade]

Didn't someone suggest it be lowered to 16?

 

[Master Mason]

Didn't someone suggest it be lowered to 16?

I have heard that. Personally, I think if your an adult at 18 then you should get to do all the adult things at 18. Drink, Drive, Vote, Serve in the Military etc.

 

[JimmyPicker]

And acutally even if he had turned 18 on the 4th he wouldn't have been able to vote because you can't register until your 18 and you have to register before you can vote.

The line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere, and right now that line is drawn at 18.

They registered my entire Senior class (well, those who wanted to register) at school one day, and most of those students hadn't turned 18.

Maybe the rules for registering to vote are different in different states.

 

[Lanshark]

Even if he was born a day earlier he still wouldn't be able to vote...You have to be 18 in order to be able to register to vote..So he'd still have to wait for the next election.

You have to be 17 and a half to register. My son turned 18 in October and was able to register when he was 17 and a half

We're in GA and since DS came with me when I voted in the primaries he spoke to a voting official that gave him the information and the application.

 

[MinnieMe87]

You have to be 17 and a half to register. My son turned 18 in October and was able to register when he was 17 and a half

We're in GA and since DS came with me when I voted in the primaries he spoke to a voting official that gave him the information and the application.

That's awesome!! How cool for your son. They wouldn't let me register until my 18th birthday. (I live in Illinois) I was bummed, but those are the rules here in Illinois. I wouldn't have been able to vote in the last election, but I can in this one. Woohoo!

 

[Piecey]

They registered my entire Senior class (well, those who wanted to register) at school one day, and most of those students hadn't turned 18.

Maybe the rules for registering to vote are different in different states.

Same thing here. Senior class was called in to an assembly and as long as you were going to be 18 by election day, they allowed you to register.

 

[RitaE]

That's awesome!! How cool for your son. They wouldn't let me register until my 18th birthday. (I live in Illinois) I was bummed, but those are the rules here in Illinois. I wouldn't have been able to vote in the last election, but I can in this one. Woohoo!

I wonder if it has changed recently in Illinois. My son registered in May at the High School. He didn't turn 18 until August.

His registration was valid because he got his Voter Card in the mail over the summer and he voted absentee a couple of weeks ago.

 

[lvanleer]

"And acutally even if he had turned 18 on the 4th he wouldn't have been able to vote because you can't register until your 18 and you have to register before you can vote.

The line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere, and right now that line is drawn at 18."

Actually I just did some online checking and as far as I can tell California has the same laws as my state Maryland.....you can register to vote at age 17 as long as you turn 18 by the general election.....I know I registered to vote my senior year in high school and I was 17(back in 1977-78).

 

[*Fantasia*]

Yesterday I was talking to a coworker who is very interested in the government and politics. But he won't be voting on Tuesday. Why? Because he's only seventeen. It seems unfair because he turns eighteen on Wednesday, so had he been born one day earlier, he'd be able to vote. I just feel really bad for him.

He has many many years to go voting. We all had to wait until we turned
18 to vote. He has to wait until he turns 18. Would you feel better if his birthday is a month later?

 

[corndog]

In Ohio, if you'll be 18 on election day, not only can you register to vote, but you can also vote at 17 in the primary.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I wonder if it has changed recently in Illinois. My son registered in May at the High School. He didn't turn 18 until August.

His registration was valid because he got his Voter Card in the mail over the summer and he voted absentee a couple of weeks ago.

That could be! I'm 21 now, and I remember going down to ask before the last election and they told me I had to be 18 to register. That was 4 years ago though and many things have changed since then. I looked at it as another poster said, I have the rest of my life to vote in all those elections. Missing out on one wasn't going to kill me. I'm glad though that I get to participate in this one. I'm very excited!

 

[Master Mason]

"And acutally even if he had turned 18 on the 4th he wouldn't have been able to vote because you can't register until your 18 and you have to register before you can vote.

The line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere, and right now that line is drawn at 18."

Actually I just did some online checking and as far as I can tell California has the same laws as my state Maryland.....you can register to vote at age 17 as long as you turn 18 by the general election.....I know I registered to vote my senior year in high school and I was 17(back in 1977-78).

Ok, then they must have changed the rules since I was 18, which was some time ago. I stand corrected.