Efforts aim to involve more teens in politics

James Liu is an ambitious 17-year-old who started a club called "Democracy Matters" with some friends at Saratoga High School, with the goal of getting more young people engaged in politics.

"If I could, I would vote because if you look at the people who ... don't, it's just because they don't think it's worth their time," James said. "I'm not easily influenced. It's really important when it comes to politics that you see all sides of a story."

James does not stand alone. Teens and adults alike have been pushing for more youth involvement for years.

And among the proposed solutions, lowering the voting age has become increasingly popular.

Photo by Konina Biswas

In June, a proposed amendment to the California constitution that would have allowed 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they turn 18 before the general election was defeated in the Senate. The bill's creator and main proponent, Assemblyman Gene Mullin, D-San Mateo, plans to reintroduce the bill.

Mullin's attempt comes at a time when the number of young voters has dwindled. Vermeer said voting among those 18 to 24 years old has dropped 15 percent in the past 32 years. Politicians, lawmakers and MTV's Rock the Vote hope to increase voter turnout to 20 million youths.

"Young people who are about to enter the majority at 18 are affected by the decisions made by voting and ... they should be able to participate in those decisions," said Beth Moore Haines, spokeswoman for the Green Party of California. "The Green Party has long sought to engage young people in politics, especially in an era where young people ... don't see a point in going into politics."

The effort isn't unique to California. Similar measures have popped up in numerous states including Arizona, Hawaii and Texas. Earlier this year, Maine approved a measure allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections.

Photo by Konina Biswas

Teens' reaction to lowering the voting age vary greatly. Some argue that six months or so age difference is critical, others say that any hindrance in voting is harmful.

"I don't care," said Nhan Le, 19, an opponent of Mullin's bill. "It should be at an age level where you can learn and understand how lives work."

When informed about the bill, Abraham Huerta, 16, nodded his head approvingly.

"It benefits the people. It's our voice being heard even though we aren't the right age," he said. "If not, our thoughts will never be thought. Nobody would hear them."

State Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, also is also taking a stand on lowering the voting age.

The man responsible for California's "self-esteem" movement composed a constitutional amendment that would give 14- and 15-year-olds a quarter of a vote and 16- and 17-year-olds half of a vote.

"I like to get teens involved, it's sorta like training wheels for citizenship," Vasconcellos said. "You'll make politics more exciting and people will start voting. It will become part of their lives. If we invite people into that, the better democracy is."

Photo by Konina Biswas

His measure isn't flawless. Lawmakers and policy analyst still have qualms about the maturity of teenagers. Their concern is that some teenagers won't understand some issues they would be asked to vote on, ranging from finances to health care.

David Chiang, 17, said if allowed, he would vote because "for one thing, I have an opinion about the government. Since I'm not a lobbyist or a politician, it's the only way I can be heard. "

David believes that teens younger than 18 should have the right to vote, but there should be an age limit.

"Teens are opinionated people," David said. "If they aren't heard, it gives them less of an incentive to vote in the future."

Some parents say they don't know if lowering the voting age is the answer.

"My son is mature enough to vote, but he is more mature than people his same age," said David's mother, Sheu-Ling Chiang. She is worried about teens voting because it's "a special age with emotion and influence from others."

But constitutional amendments are not the only path to teen involvement.

Groups like the Education Commission of the States support civic education starting in kindergarten.

"Teens that want to get involved can go to school board meetings, city meetings, and, if they can, they should register to vote," said Susan Vermeer, a policy analyst

for the education commission. "We need to have ... civic engagement."

Experts agree that civic education at earlier ages will interest teens in politics. And some say that giving them the right to vote, as well as education, would increase voter turnout.

"Teens might not be mature enough to understand politics. One of the ways to get political involvement is through education," Vermeer said. "Schools should teach them through government classes. It's called civic education."