¿Votar o no votar a los
16 años?
Juan Cruz,
Martín y Tomás -a la izquierda- optaron por votar el próximo domingo. En
cambio, Bruno, Millán, Juan V., Juan M. -a la derecha- esperarán hasta los 18
años, cuando el sufragio sea obligatorio. Foto: Flavio Raina
Next Sunday is a very
important date for our country since the Presidential Election is taking place.
This article deals with the chance that sixteen-year olds have to choose our
next president. Even though it is not mandatory, if they are sixteen they can suffrage.
This issue is kind of controversial considering some people´s complaint about
this possibility they have; they think that teens are not mature enough to make
such a decision. Sometimes, teenagers themselves think they are not prepared to
suffrage.
Personally, I
consider that the act of voting is very determining since we are making a
decision that will affect us in one way or another. Hence, some people discuss that
adolescents can´t vote because they do not know anything and they don´t care
about anything. I believe that they have their own opinions and their own vision
of the situation and it is very worthy to listen to them. That is why I
consider generalizations are not correct due to the fact that some grown-ups
are not that engaged with elections either-we can tell about it by looking back
in our politics history. So, let´s give them a chance to show they can do it.
From my viewpoint, it
is ok to give teenagers the possibility to vote so as to make them feel that
their opinion is valuable. However, these voters should be guided beforehand;
to inform them how the electoral process is and what they are choosing when
voting. For this, the government should design some workshops in schools where
they can debate and give their own opinion about politics. Besides, they should
be acquainted with all the parties and candidates for them to know their
proposals. After all, these electors are the future citizens, so it is time
they started to take a look to the different options they will have in the “cuarto
oscuro” next Sunday.
Personally, I consider that the act of voting is very determining since we are making a decision that will affect us in one way or another. Hence, some people discuss that adolescents can´t vote because they do not know anything and they don´t care about anything. I believe that they have their own opinions and their own vision of the situation and it is very worthy to listen to them. That is why I consider generalizations are not correct due to the fact that some grown-ups are not that engaged with elections either-we can tell about it by looking back in our politics history. So, let´s give them a chance to show they can do it.
Ana, I remember when the option of having 16 years old citizens voting in the elections was raised and my little brother was turning 16 at that time. My family and I asked him whether he wanted to vote or not and he said that he was going to.
ResponderBorrarI agree with you in the sense that these citizens should be informed about everything that is happening as regards politics, but I think that even so, they are not ready to vote yet. Why do I say this? I believe that they still don't really know what they want to do with their lives and the responsibility of choosing their next president is thrown at them as if it were something totally natural. I agree with the fact that some of them are totally ready to do it, and in that sense I like the idea of this being optional, but there are some people that still don't know what they want to do next week and here we are, making them select the person who is going to govern the country for the next 4 (maybe 8) years. To top it all, I'm not really that into politics so I still don't know who I want to govern the country and I'm 22... just saying...hahaha
Ani, good article! I share your opinion... I think that everybody should have the chance to vote whether it be an adolescent or an adult. we weren´t born knowing everyting, so I guess that those who say "they are not prepare to vote at all" are wrong. Of course they may not know that much about politics thus, it is their parents´ role to teach them about it, or the school should prepare them to do it. I remember the first time I voted, I was prepare enough to take a decision because the teacher in charged of "Etica y Ciudadana" explained us everything related to the different political parties and, what is more, the history of them. So, in general terms, I consider that we all have the right to vote, Argentian´s voices should be heard.
ResponderBorrarAnalia, I agree with you on the fact that adolescents have their own opinions as regards politics. I consider that they should not be denied the right to vote at the age of 16. I think, just like you, that most of them know pretty well what to do with their future. For instance, I have students from 16 to 18 years old and most of them have a wide knowledge about politics, more than many adults, I can assure you that. Being young is not a synonym of immature. On the contrary, there are adolescents whose know what they are going to study at university and they analise all the prosand the cons of such decision. We should not generalize, and we should not forget that voting at the age of 16 is not compulsory. It is just a choice.
ResponderBorrar