D.C. council member wants to lower voting age to 16

Protesters, including Sonia Agrebi (front) of Nevada, participate in the March for Our Lives rally on March 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Inspired by the "Walk for Our Lives" rallies, Charles Allen, a Democratic city councilman in the nation's capital, is pushing to lower the District of Columbia's voting age to 16 for the 2020 presidential election.

The last time the voting age changed was when the Vietnam War was raging, and students protested it was unfair 18-year-olds could be drafted but not vote.

However, some believe Parkland High School students are being exploited this time around.

“It's easier to pursuade younger people who have limited knowledge and that makes them easier prey,” says Catherine Engelbrecht, president of True the Vote.

“In the awful aftermath of Parkland and all that has come from that, their parents should vote their conscience.  Their parents shoul be involved.  But having the children involved, I think is the wrong way to go.”

Most 16-year-olds she knows are focused more on getting their driver's license, junior prom and social media.

 “Why don't we start teaching civics in school again?  Maybe when they graduate they'd be in a better position to make an educated vote,” says Engelbrecht.


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