Introduction
For a long time, the debate on how to involve young Americans in the voting system has been raging within the United States with the sole intention being towards ensuring that the young people would be given a platform through which to express their opinion (Hart & Atkins, 2011). That can be seen from the fact legislation has been put in place to ensure that persons, who are above the age of 18 years, are allowed to vote in both the primaries and November elections. However, the biggest question has been whether persons, who are expected to turn 18 before the November elections, ought to be allowed to vote in the primaries. That is a question that this report seeks to examine with the focus being on the Texas HJR 37 Proposition 7, which seeks to allow persons aged 17 years, but would turn 18 years before the November elections, are allowed to vote in the primaries.
Who do you think will support or oppose this?
By evaluating the structured voting patterns among legislators within the House of Representatives, it can be argued that the proposed legislation is likely to receive support from both Republicans and Democrats. Durant (2015) argues that political parties tend to focus on legislations that would seek to advance their respective positions and control within the different houses within which legislators are expected. In this case, allowing persons aged 17 years would mean that the voter pattern is much more likely to change significantly. Both political parties would seek to use this change to their advantage with the sole intention being towards ensuring that they gain a higher level of control in the different houses.
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Another key factor that would define the support that the proposed legislation is likely to gain from both parties revolves around the fact that it highlights that the persons being allowed to vote in the primaries are eligible to vote. Sec. 1a (2) indicates that, “satisfies the other applicable requirements for eligibility to vote” (Howard, p.1). From this section, it is clear that the proposed legislation seeks to create some form of guarantee that serves to support the position that although the persons would be allowed to vote in the primaries, they must meet other requirements. Legislators from both parties are likely to accept the proposed legislation, as this would mean that the persons would be given an opportunity to engage in the primaries, which would give them a close sense of the November elections. For the parties, this would serve as an advantage towards building on a proactive position through which to define their capacities at the grassroot levels.
Is it a good idea?
On the question of whether this can be viewed as a good idea, I would argue that indeed this can be viewed as a good idea, as it builds on the understanding that the persons, who will be 18 years before the November elections, would be involved in all stages of the elections. By not allowing these persons to vote in the primaries, this would mean that the leaders that they are voting for at the November elections do not represent their respective choices. Merry & Schinkel (2016) argue from the basis that every individual has the right to engage in voting as a political freedom. That means that by allowing the persons to vote in the primaries, legislators would be affirming the fact that they support the right for every individual to vote.
On the other hand, it can also be considered as a good idea, as it seeks to give the persons, who have not engaged in voting before, a good sense of how voting is undertaken before they engage in the November elections. By not allowing these persons to vote in the primaries but allowing them to vote in the November elections means that it creates a pattern that serves towards creating anxiety. The individuals are likely to make a wide array of mistakes that may have serious implications on the voting system within the United States November elections. However, this can be changed significantly in cases where the persons are allowed to vote in the primaries to help give them some form of confidence with regard to what is expected of them in the November elections.
If you were in the Texas Legislature how would you vote?
Personally, I would vote for the legislation, as I believe that it would play a critical role towards changing the dynamics of the voting system within the United States. Additionally, I believe that it will help given the younger people an opportunity of having to have their voices heard as part of their engagement in voting.
If it passes the legislature, would you vote for or against as a citizen?
As a citizen, I would vote for the legislation, as I believe that every individual should be accorded the right to vote. I believe that the decision to allow persons that would have reached 18 years to vote would mean that most of these persons are likely to change their understanding of the political structure within the United States.
References
Durant, A. A. (2015). Two Years in Limbo: North Carolina's Inconsistent Treatment of Sixteen-and-Seventeen-Year Olds. Wake Forest JL & Pol'y , 5 , 531.
Hart, D., & Atkins, R. (2011). American sixteen-and seventeen-year-olds are ready to vote. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science , 633 (1), 201-222.
Howard, D. (2019). H.J.R. No. 37 . Retrieved from https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/pdf/HJ00037I.pdf
Merry, M., & Schinkel, A. (2016). Voting rights for older children and civic education. Public Affairs Quarterly , 30 (3), 197-213.
