GOP 2012 Hopeful Fred Karger Calls for Amendment to Lower Voting Age

Longtime Republican activist Fred Karger, a veteran of many political campaigns who is considering launching a bid to become the first openly gay presidential candidate in American history, proposed a new constitutional amendment on Tuesday to lower the voting age in a speech made at Dartmouth College in the key primary state of New Hampshire.

I feel that we should immediately begin discussion and planning to lower the legal voting age in the United States to either 16 or 17 years old, said Karger. By allowing younger people the privilege to help shape the direction of this great nation, we will encourage participation in the political process at an earlier age and help to make better voters out of the next generation.??

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds in this country are better informed than any generation in history, insisted Karger. If we can engage high school students in the political process, they will be more likely to participate for years to come. We should then encourage our schools and school districts to teach these young people about elections and the campaigns on the local, state and national level while they are happening.

Karger looked at the passage of the 26th Amendment which lowered the voting age to 18.

The amendment was proposed by Congress in March of 1971, and within four months was ratified by three-fourths of the state legislators by July of 1971, said Karger. This was the fastest an amendment has ever been ratified in history. It enabled 10 million new voters the right to vote.

The U.S. ranks 36th in voter turnout, behind such countries as India, Israel, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, Venezuela and Australia, he added. By teaching our younger people the privilege of voting early, we can increase participation and turnout for generations to come.

Lets begin the dialog and show our 16- and 17-year-olds that we value them and their opinions, said Karger in closing. They can drive, pay taxes, enlist in the military at 17 and even vote in certain state primaries at 17 as long as they turn 18 by the general election.