STATE— Many voters are concerned about a new piece of legislation, House Bill 226, that would give teens the right to vote in Primary elections.
At a time when they are not sure what they are doing next week, much less in the next four-to-six years (the average term of most elected offices in Illinois) 17-year-old high school juniors will be deciding two of the most crucial aspects of elections: the presidential candidate who will represent each party on the general election ballot, and the delegates who will be attending conventions for those presidential candidates.
Given the intensive “dumbing-down” of voters that schools, mainstream media, and party operatives have accomplished over the past several decades, the fact that delegates—and not the peoples’ vote—are what selects the president every four years has been nearly lost on all but the most astute voters.
Many feel that the dumbing-down was kicked off when a Constitutional amendment in 1971 allowed 18-year-olds to vote, when previously the voting age was 21…and at a time when then-21-year-olds were out of college, in a job and family, and a little more responsible and enlightened than 18-year-olds.
The allowance of 18-year-old voters—most of whom were in college and, by default, were socialist-leaning (known as communism in the 60s and 70s)—ensured that less-capable, and more “popular,” candidates prevailed. This lead to the election of one of the earliest RINOs (Republican in Name Only), Richard Nixon, in 1972, and one of the most disastrous presidents ever to hold the office (eclipsed only by our current “president”), Jimmy Carter.
The backlash that occurred in 1980 with Ronald Reagan’s election resolved this issue only for a little while; but the socialist mentality that the Democrat Party displays again and again has since prevailed in several elections, as younger people (under 21) come to have more and more of an “entitlement” mentality, and vote toward the candidate that promises them they will have to put forth the least amount of effort in order to accept the most gain…from the rest of us who actually work to support them, not just at a youthful age, but in decades (and generations) to come.
This proposed measure would allow 17-year-olds to vote if they will be 18 for the November general elections.
The proposal was approved 12-0-03.
Having already cleared the House, the measure moves to the full Senate for consideration.
State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, said that although the point was made by proponents that the measure might increase young voter engagement, he is not sure it’s a step the state should be taking yet.
“There is a level of maturity that exists, at least in most individuals at the age of 18, that enables them to cast an informed vote on the process,” Righter said.
There are at least 19 other states that allow minors to vote in Primary elections.
“This state is in bad enough shape as it is,” said one critic of the proposal “All we need is a bunch of high school kids making critical decisions for our future.”