Kids in Illinois Begin Organizing to Gain Right to Vote…???

When you were a grade schooler did you have class elections surrounding national elections? Back in the 80’s we did. It was a different time. I don’t believe you could do something like that now. The exercise would be too divisive, and there’s enough to worry about as a kid these days without having to introduce the baggage of American politics.

There are two schools of thought here. 1- Kids should be aware of what is happening in public when it comes to local/regional/national politics. Some kids might be curious about what they see online politically, or hearing people talking, and ask their parents about individuals or issues. Parents then have the ability to explain in a way that they believe their child can understand.

The second perspective is that kids don’t need to be worried about such things and should focus on academics and working on a skill they might be interested in. There will be more than enough time to wade into the mire of politics when you get older.

I can understand either side of this. Ultimately it depends on the child. How mature they are, how interested are they in the issues/individuals.  Are these things you think they can/should handle?

Greta Thunberg got involved with climate activism when she was 15, and within a year was speaking at the United Nations.

A soon to be nine year old from Portage Park Illinois wants to be able to vote legally in elections and doesn’t want to have to wait until she’s eighteen to register. The third grader is having a rally for child voting rights at her gradeschool on election day (Nov.5). This isn’t the first time she’s done this either. When she was six (yes six) she held an election day rally and the next year she was testifying in front of Massachusetts legislators about election laws and children voting.

The elementary school student says kids should be allowed to voice their opinion by vote as they are affected by elections, but can’t legally participate. She cited a local school board election as an example of a race where the outcome will directly affect her.

This introduces myriad issues. At what age is old enough to understand the issues that will be voted on? Maturity isn’t uniform. There are plenty of legal adults that may not be old enough to grasp the bigger picture of voting on issues, or even care. We should want every voter to be informed on the people and things on the ballot.

Do her efforts lead to passing a test on issues to obtain the right to vote? Would that disenfranchise adults who are used to voting but may not be up issues?

Kids obviously won’t be impacted on a first person financial level on specific issues that are voted on.  Kids don’t pay property taxes. There has though been a idea introduced to lower the voting age, but not to nine.

The third grader was drawn to issues and how to be involved since watching her older sister work on an assignment about women’s suffrage. Her parents say they showed her the "School House Rock" vignette "Suffrin' till Suffrage" so she could learn more.