The 26th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1971 allowing 18 year olds to vote, should be revoked/changed so that voting age is 21. Reasons:
A. You cannot legally consume alcohol, rent a car, or buy tobacco until you’re 21
B. Under the age of 21 a person has not had enough adult experience to vote on issues that will possibly last generations and affect millions of people
C. Only people who are in the military or veterans between the ages of 18-21 would be allowed to vote as an exception by showing their military ID
All voters should have to pass a basic quiz regarding the US Constitution in order to vote:
A. All citizens registered to vote would be given/mailed a copy of the constitution, along with a simple quiz (ex: 25 questions) that they must complete and bring in or mail back to their local City/Town Administration. This would be basically an “open book” quiz in which the voter would have the answers, if they can read (see C)
B. If the quiz is not shown to have been returned, or the quiz is not passed, when the voter requests a ballot, a ballot will not be issued to that voter.
C. If a voter is blind, English is not their first language, or they can prove otherwise that they are not educated with the ability to read, accommodations may be granted under the ADA and/or alternative methods to complete the quiz would be given.
You must have paid Federal taxes for at least 1 year to be able to vote:
A. Those who don’t pay taxes have little vested interest in how many of the nation’s issues affect them or others , and they don’t pay in to the government run programs which tax paying citizens do.
B. Those who are tax exempt due to religious affiliation or otherwise (ex: Amish) would have the ability to vote
C. Those who paid taxes for at least a year, but no longer do, no matter what the reason, would be allowed to vote.
The constitution quiz is just a new form of literacy test. And if it’s a take home test what’s stopping people from googling the answers, negating any effect you’d have. This would also drive down voter participation which is already low. Because if you’re not really invested in politics but you lean one way now you’re just not gonna show up cause it’s not worth your time and effort. Also people under the age of 21 are still adults who are heavily influenced by the government that they should be able to make their voice heard in. And with the military exception this essentially tells the American citizens that these people are more of a citizen than you. This violates everything the constitution stands for in the terms of equality especially the 14th amendment.
I like and would vote for this with one or two tweaks to your policy.
And probably the only one is I think if you haven’t paid taxes or like you say are are tax exempt. I don’t think you should get to vote. Reason being. I’ll use your example. The Amish. The Amish don’t pay taxes for religious beliefs. Ok they shouldn’t have a vote on a issue or a person being elected to office that will be collecting and spending tax money that the tax payers have paid. They don’t pay taxes on schools or state taxes for road repairs And stuff because they don’t operate autos on the road. But they do how ever drive farm tractors on state roads that contributes to the wear and tear of the road. Don’t pay taxes for any reason sorry no vote. IMO
I also think that if the constitution and the way our government operates was taught in school’s as a required course. The need for the constitution quiz wouldn’t be needed. I believe adamantly that 3 things need to be taught to kids before they leave high school.
1.is how the government operates and passes laws and All.
2. I believe gun safety and proper handling of any and all firearms should be taught before graduating.
3. This one is probably most important. Life skills and saving money. And how a mortgage and interest rate works.
The reason for the Constitution quiz: Because even though it is open book basically and the answers are given, it forces every voter to re-read/ or listen to the Constitution read by someone. Most voters have never even read the Constitution and have very little knowledge of what it says. If you’re a US Citizen voter you should know what the issues are and why a lot of them matter, and how our government works, and knowing The Constitution is a huge part of that.
The 21 or over, as I stated is because most 18-20 year olds do not have enough knowledge or experience to really understand the impact their vote will have on matters that affect millions of people. I had the exception of the military 18-20 year olds because they have been asked by our government to put their life on the line, have experienced more than most will ever be witness to and so should be given special privileges to vote
Fantastic reform and one to tinker through. I remember a video of a veteran saying that when their service was happening, that he felt like a man. When he came back to the states, he didn’t feel like a man at all due to the restrictions like alcohol and other aspects. Almost specifying that they send children to war. As if he was not yet ready for life experiences - especially a combat zone.
I’ve seen this same video. I think. I have always said that if you can go to war and fight and die for your country at the age of 18 then you should be able to drink a beer if you want. If you’re not going to let 18 year Olds have a beer then maybe the enlistment age should be raised to 21? regardless of enlistment age. I am working on a policy that would give veterans that have been in combat and make it home. Free housing for life. I feel it’s the least we can do for the boys that have fought and protect us. Been building houses for over 40 years. I know it could be done with minimum expense. Nothing fancy just 600 to 900 square feet homes. This would also take care of a good percentage of the homeless population as well
Create Veteran Villages or Hero Homes. Some of those tiny homes - the ones with a little extra square footage - could be lovely if done correctly. Enough room and space to call home.
They would be done to the highest building standards. I built houses for over 40 years. Never had a home not pass code or fail inspection. They would have to be built to My specs or not at all. Don’t know how much money has been sent to Ukraine but I am confident I could build enough to put every homeless vet in there own home for half of what has been spent on Ukraine. It’s insane that our veterans a big percentage of them has know home they can call there’s and not have to worry about losing it
It is not a literacy test, because there is a provision for those who can’t read English.
Googling the answers is not a problem… That’s no different than using your copy of the Constitution to find the answers.
The age at which one becomes an adult will always be somewhat random.
People who are not interested in politics should NOT be voting.
My biggest issue is the likelihood that some people will just get somebody else to fill out their quiz for them
I mean that fringe voters won’t show up as much cause they’ll see it as something that’s not worth their time.
Literacy tests were a Jim Crow test that black people had to take in order to vote because they didn’t want there voices heard in government. This is literally the same thing. You are advocating for the oppression of the political voice of people.
The reason 18yrs old is “adulthood” is cause that is when most people move out of their parents house. That number is anything but random. And as adults they should have the legal right to have their voice heard.
The money’s there to help with. I mean NYC, allegedly, spends $5.76 BILLION for illegals due to the housing and all that requires their stay. That’s a total until the end of 2025.
I have know experience with hemp domes. But hey I’m always about new and innovative ways to build more efficient. As for the units. They would be pre fan delivered on a semi. With a simple A goes here. And Wall B connects to wall a. And so on. Haven’t gotten it all completely ready for production but working every day on it when I can. I do know the units would be constructed in a assembly plant. Kinda like Modular homes are built but smaller scale. They would come with all the mechanical elements in place so once assembled on site you just connect to the power grid and your good. There is 3 different floor plans as of right now. Might make more but the 3 I have seem to serve for form and function. Like for handicap accessible with lower cabinets in the kitchenette for ease of access in a wheelchair. I’ve been working on this at least the idea in My head since I retired from the home building industry. About 2 years ago.
Why federal taxes? There is no law that the average wage earner has to file or pay federal tax. Once you file it becomes contract law.
I would substitute being on govt assistance. If they can’t manage their own life, then why would they make a good voting decision. It’s what the left counts on is people not wanting to let go of their gravy train.
