PAGE TEN
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1966
PA ETNTEMCIANDIYSNANOEBR1 9t
.11
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
)
Vote
YES
on
Proposal
No.
1
* 21 IS AN ARBITRARY AGE ... in the 18th century we adopted 21 because of tradition. That
tradition was partly based on the fact that a man couldn't become a knight until he was 21. No
information is available to prove that one voting age is better than another. The question should
become. . . do citizens who share in the government's burdens, deserve to participate in its decision
making processes. The arbitrary line should be drawn to include citizens who do share in the gov-
ernment's burdens.
* 18-YEAR-OLDS ARE GIVEN ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES ... the government subjects 18-year-
olds to the draft. It also considers them old enough to be treated as an adult by the federal courts.
Many 18-19-20-year-olds pay income and property tax. And the minimum age under the civil ser-
vice is 18.
o 18-YEAR-OLDS ARE BETTER EDUCATED ... in September, 1965, 45% of the 10-12 million
Americans between the ages of 18 and 20 were enrolled for degree credit in colleges. Our educa-
tional systems have greatly improved, even during the last decade. And they are turning out stu-
dents who are more aware of political issues and have the potential of accepting political respon-
sibility and using it wisely at the polls.
* THE GAP BETWEEN 18 AND 21 LEADS TO FRUSTRATION AND APATHY .. , it is to the
benefit of both the democratic and educational processes to lower the voting age to 18. The schools
have accepted the role for teaching a student about citizenship and how to accept its responsibilities.
This type of education would have greater value if the voting age was lowered. Hubert Humphrey
stated that the value of education comes from its association with responsibility.
+ IT IS NOT A RADICAL CHANGE ... the trend toward extending sufferage is in the American
tradition. Some of the original 18th century voting requirements stated you had to be male, white,
a property owner and over 21. We have come a long way since the 18th century. Today Negroes,
women and non-property owners have won their right to vote. Four states already have a voting age
under 21. In fact, if this proposal passed, it would add less than 400,000 to Michigan's potential
voting population.
A
'V
*
w
They Share Its Burdens-Let Them Participate
In Its Decisions
GIVE I8,19, 20-YEAR-OLDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE
0
18-Year-Old Vote
GEORGE ROMNEY ...
"Young people get greatly interested in public affairs ahead of
their 18th birthdays. If they could become involved in a more mean-
ingful way at that age - through the right to vote I believe they
would be more likely to remain active."
JEROME P. CAVANAGH .--
"The young people of this nation have clearly demonstrated their'
ability to assume additional responsibility by their great contribu-
tions to the natonal purpose. Their work in the Peace Corps is just
one example. We should welcome them as voters at 18."
Endorsed by:
ROBERT F. KENNEDY ...
"By the time a person has reached 18 he should be mature enough
to assume the responsibility of voting. I am confident that the grant-
ing of this privilege would generate a mature response.
EVERETT DIRKSEN...
"Citizens aged 18 should be granted the right to vote .. . We come
back to what Abraham Lincoln said long ago. He said that he be-
lieved that all who-assist in bearing the burden of government should
share in its privileges."
oV
X
others
oA
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
REPUBLICAN PARTY
PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON
FORMER PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
GOVERNOR NELSON A. ROCKEFELLER
LATE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
GOVERNOR MARK HATFIELD
SENATOR MIKE MANSFIELD
FORMER SENATOR BARRY GOLDWATER
SENATOR MARGARET CHASE SMITH
Af
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