YES

YES

At 16, we can drive; we can get jobs; we pay taxes on our income, just like anyone else. And, we have an unlimited amount of resources to educate ourselves. If government policies impact us at the age of 16, why shouldn’t we be allowed to impact the government?
The last time we lowered the voting age at the federal level was in 1971, when it was lowered from 21 to 18. Back then, it was lowered because 18 year olds were being drafted into the Vietnam war. It was understood that if the government required them to fight for their country, they deserved the right to vote and make their own impact on our government leaders and policies.
The voting age changed because the times had changed.
Now, times are changing again.
Today we have smartphones and internet connection— it’s much easier to educate ourselves on the important issues and policies impacting our country. If given the opportunity to vote, 16 and 17 year olds can utilize the resources available to them that not even 18 year olds had available to them back in 1971.
Additionally, there is no developmental reason to hold back voting for another two years after we turn 16. The law puts the drinking age at 21 because alcohol impedes the development of the brain before then. However, by the time we turn 16, our brains are developed enough to form our own educated political opinions. We have everything we need to become well-informed citizens with political opinions, and because of that, we deserve the right to vote and have a voice in our government.