Lowering Voting Age to 16, Regardless of Immigration Status - Rockville

[Anonymous]

This is being discussed on Jan 30, during the Council Meeting. Along with some other changes to voting.

Interesting that they want to lower the voting age. Are there other jurisdictions with a voting age of 16?

https://rockvillereports.com/commission-recommends-changes-to-voting-age-size-of-mayor-and-council-and-city-elections/

[Anonymous]

I think they are looking to follow Takoma Park. I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense.

[Anonymous]

Horrible idea, for more reasons that I can spell out here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they are looking to follow Takoma Park. I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense.

Is the voting age in Takoma Park also 16? And are people allowed to vote even if they are undocumented?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they are looking to follow Takoma Park. I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense.

Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Horrible idea, for more reasons that I can spell out here.

Starting with that you hate young people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are looking to follow Takoma Park. I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense.

Is the voting age in Takoma Park also 16? And are people allowed to vote even if they are undocumented?

The age is definitely 16 in Takoma Park, it's also 16 in Greenbelt, Riverdale Park, and Hyattsville. It's also 16 in a few countries (Austria, Ecuador, Brazil, Scotland, I believe, maybe others). Takoma Park (and a few other small places in Maryland (https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States) permit non-citizens to vote based on residency in the city.

Honestly, I think this is fine, but also ultimately not that important either way. Not letting 16 year olds or non-citizens vote isn't a huge injustice, but it's also not causing anarchy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are looking to follow Takoma Park. I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense.

Is the voting age in Takoma Park also 16? And are people allowed to vote even if they are undocumented?

They’ve been doing it a long time in Takoma Park. It’s only for local elections, not state or Federal. They’ve been allowing minors to vote for about a decade and non-citizens since the 90s.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/takoma-park-grants-16-year-olds-right-to-vote/2013/05/14/b27c52c4-bccd-11e2-89c9-3be8095fe767_story.html
https://www.npr.org/local/305/2022/11/09/1135568975/it-feels-very-welcoming-non-citizen-immigrants-on-voting-in-takoma-park

Notably none of this has changed the racial composition of elected officials and relatedly the control over politics of the city so they would say that it has been a success. Performative with no material impact, particularly on the core affluent liberal constituency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are looking to follow Takoma Park. I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense.

Is the voting age in Takoma Park also 16? And are people allowed to vote even if they are undocumented?

The age is definitely 16 in Takoma Park, it's also 16 in Greenbelt, Riverdale Park, and Hyattsville. It's also 16 in a few countries (Austria, Ecuador, Brazil, Scotland, I believe, maybe others). Takoma Park (and a few other small places in Maryland (https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States) permit non-citizens to vote based on residency in the city.

Honestly, I think this is fine, but also ultimately not that important either way. Not letting 16 year olds or non-citizens vote isn't a huge injustice, but it's also not causing anarchy.

This is the point, right? If it actually had a demonstrable impact on politics and power that made the majority uncomfortable in some way then it would not even be considered, even in Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Horrible idea, for more reasons that I can spell out here.

Starting with that you hate young people?

Not wanting to let 16 year old undocumented immigrants vote does not equal ‘hating young people’.

[Anonymous]

They don't trust young adults enough to officially let them drink until they are 21 but want to give them the power to choose who drives the entire nation 5 years earlier? Either voting rights are meaningless or we need to bring down the legal drinking age. Which is it?

Undocumented people shouldn't get to vote. Your civil rights should come after you do your civil duty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Horrible idea, for more reasons that I can spell out here.

Starting with that you hate young people?

so a 16 year old should be able to vote but a 20 year old cannot vape at all and a 60 year old can’t vape fruit flavored vapes

[Anonymous]

One of the biggest incentives for me to become a US citizen was so that I could vote. I think it is a mistake to allow non-citizens to vote even in local elections. We all know that local elections are the ones that matter the most and they can either wait to become citizens at 18, like I did, or unfortunately not be able to vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the biggest incentives for me to become a US citizen was so that I could vote. I think it is a mistake to allow non-citizens to vote even in local elections. We all know that local elections are the ones that matter the most and they can either wait to become citizens at 18, like I did, or unfortunately not be able to vote.

You have not presented any argument for allowing non-citizens or young people to vote in local elections other than jealousy that they won’t have to jump throw the same hoops as you do. It would be like the suffragettes arguing that all women who wish to vote going forward have to launch their own movements if they want to vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Horrible idea, for more reasons that I can spell out here.

Starting with that you hate young people?

Not wanting to let 16 year old undocumented immigrants vote does not equal ‘hating young people’.

They live in the community and are affected as much - if not more - by local public policy decisions. Many work and pay taxes. If you have an argument that can be separated from prejudice, lay it on us.