Teenagers in the Lehigh Valley of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are arguing for something that I find to be very relevant. As you are probably well aware, Pennsylvania held it’s 2008 primary election on April 22. The argument that these teenagers are debating is that if someone is old enough to vote in the general election held in November, why can’t they be eligible to vote in the primary election held during the same election year?

• Newspaper article (Initial Article): http://tinyurl.com/6y6jpn
• Newspaper article (Final Article): http://tinyurl.com/5vtpca
• General Assembly Pennsylvania, House Bill 520: http://tinyurl.com/6fqy9n

The example that the Morning Call gives is that of a teenage woman that was born on April 29, 1990. Since Pennsylvania held it’s primary election on April 22, 2008, she wasn’t eligible to vote because she was 17 years old.

I believe this is an excellent idea. If somebody wants to vote, why shouldn’t they be allowed too? Some say that they shouldn’t be allowed because are not an adult. I respond by saying that there are 35 years olds that are eligible to vote but don’t for some reason. In my opinion, it is a completely waste of being an American citizen if you do not vote and you are eligible to and physically able to.

I am actually starting to believe that if you are over the age of 14 (Pennsylvania’s legal working age) and are also having taxes taken out of your paycheck, that you should be eligible to vote. Being 14 years old and working is like living in the District of Columbia and being faced with “taxation without representation.” I have nothing against being taxes, just as long as I have a say (albeit little) in public policy and how that money is used

What do you think? When should you be able to vote?