#Students' Rights
Target:
Governor Jennifer Granholm
Region:
United States of America
Website:
docs.google.com

Apathy among voters today is a major problem in American democracy. In the 1998 elections, only 36.1% of the voting age population turned out to vote, the lowest percentage since 1942, when America was at war. Even in a presidential election year, 1996, turnout was only 49%. This level of turnout makes building a thriving democracy difficult.

Lowering the voting age to sixteen can be a small but meaningful step in raising voter turnout in the District. A lower voting age, combined with a curriculum designed to teach young people about the political process can increase their interest in voting.

A lower voting age would provide:

• More enthusiasm about politics by the youth which would bring more awareness to nonvoting adults

• Active participation in the political process leading to a lifetime of voting

• A forum to encourage government to deal with the concerns of youth that are inadequately addressed

• Protection for the interests of the youth

• Partnerships between young people and adults which will allow both groups to be better represented by allowing a more accurate number of supporters

We, the undersigned, would like to bring your attention to the following problem, with recommendation(s):

Lower the voting age in the State of Michigan to 16 years old, provided the person has successfully completed and passed a State-approved “Political Process” course.

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The Proposal to Change the Voting Age to Sixteen petition to Governor Jennifer Granholm was written by Cydny Henry, Lauren Babb, Lauren Mifsud, Patty Battersby, Lisa Ventura and is in the category Students' Rights at GoPetition.