Voting

background history

PLEASE REGISTER TO VOTE AND USE YOUR VOTE!

Although we all have the right to vote, many people do not take advantage of this most basic democratic right. Your vote is the most direct way that you have of influencing the way your country and your local councils are run. People have fought long and hard for the right of everyone to be able to vote and for the equality of each persons vote. One person, one vote. #Its only right. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits states from imposing any "voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure ... to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color."
court case 
Pitts v. Black-Plaintiffs challenged a New York State Election Law provision forbidding people living on the streets from registering to vote.  The District Court held that the New York City Board of Election’s application of the residency requirement disenfranchised an entire group of people, which is forbidden by the Equal Protection Clause.  The court found that a person’s “residence” is the place at the center of the individual’s life and the place where he/she presently intends to remain.

Should they lower the voting age to 16???

Yes points

• giving young people the right to vote would make them more engaged in society
• If they're old enough to join armed forces, they should be able to vote
• they work and pay taxes so they should have a "say so" just like the adults 

No points

• they are too immature to make such an important decision
• their parents can influence their decisions
• very little knowledge of politics

I think that 16 year olds SHOULD NOT be able to vote because there is too much responsibility in such a huge decision. There are many teens who are capable of handling that privilege but others will just abuse it...No need for unnecessary controversy

www.hart.gov.uk/index/your_council/democracy_elections/even_more_about_elections/history_of_voting.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act