Would giving 16-year-olds the vote improve democracy or just change the way campaigns are run?

Allowing 16-year-olds to vote may be beneficial to democracy and it could also impact how politicians conduct their campaigns for office.

When we allow people to vote it enhances the democratic system because it allows people and their perspectives to have a voice. Teenagers today care about important issues; such as climate change, education, and job availability. By giving 16-year-olds the opportunity to vote they will be able to have some influence on their future, through voting. When young children (under 18) vote they may become interested in politics sooner than if they do not have the ability to vote before they turn 18 years of age.

Campaigns for office are likely to change in terms of how they are conducted if 16-year-olds can vote. There may be greater use of media than in previous elections. Politicians may use more targeted messages, while focusing on the issues that young people (such as 16-year-olds) care about in order to attract their vote. There are many individuals who think 16-year-olds do not possess enough knowledge of politics to participate in the process of voting; therefore campaigns could potentially move towards being more emotionally-driven rather than focusing on issues.

In summary, allowing 16-year-olds to vote may make the democratic process better; however, it also will likely have an impact on the way candidates run their campaigns for office.