Section 1 – Preparing and Refining Your Argument
- Identify the conclusion you will argue for. You may narrow or weaken the conclusion if you wish.
I am supporting the argument that New Zealand should lower the voting age to 16 years old.
- Identify and map your premises. Give a list of your premises, put them into a logical structure, and provide a diagram.
List of Premises
- Voting is a human right, and it is supported by world-known organizations such as the United Nations (Joseph & Castan, 2013). This because voting allows people to choose their leaders as well as to exercise the right to inclusion in the making of decisions.
- By allowing those aged 16 years to participate in the voting process, it means that young people or teen issues will be deeply be discussed in the parliament (Taylor, Neslen & Brooks, 2019). Generally, the issues affecting the young population are overlooked since adults might not easily understand the interests of the young generation. Therefore, lowering the voting age will grant the young citizens more inclusivity.
- The development of democracy requires the availability of numbers. Lowering the voting age will mean an increase in the number of people making decisions. Therefore, the decision-making processes will be more inclusive and diverse.
Logical Structure (note you may need more or fewer rows of the table)
| Premise | Conclusion | |
| Voting is a human right | Everyone has a right to enjoy their rights. 16-year-olds should be permitted to exercise their voting rights because that avoids stripping them out of this essential human right. | |
| By allowing those aged 16 to vote, it will increase chances of their issues being discussed in parliament | Interests of young people have would be well represented through their participation in politics because they will be in a position to support their preferred candidates and decisions. | |
| The development of democracy requires the availability of numbers | Lowering the voting age will mean an increase in the number of people making decisions. Therefore, the decision-making processes will be more inclusive and diverse. |
Diagram: You may find it useful to copy and paste these arrows: é æ å
Conclusion
Premise é Supporting
Conclusion
Premise é Supporting
Conclusion
é
Premise opposing
- Consider a counter-argument
On opposing the issue of lowering the voting age in New Zealand to 16 years, an argument is presented that anyone below the age of 18 in most cases is not politically mature. However, such an argument is a generalization and could be biased (Zeglovits, 2013). A strategy should be developed to educate the young voters on the feasibility of political decision instead of denying them their political right.
Section 2 – Write it up!
Write your argument in full below. You should aim to write 250 words, plus or minus 10%.
Voting is a human right. This truth is supported not only by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights but also the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. For instance, the UNDHR states that “everyone should have the right to participate in selecting their government through periodic elections, and that there should be universal and equal suffrage” (Joseph & Castan 2013). Considering the declarations made by the United Nations responsive programs on matters concerning voting rights, disallowing 16-year-old New Zealand citizens is unjust.
By allowing those aged 16 years to participate in the voting process, it means that young people or teen issues will be deeply be discussed in the parliament (Zeglovits 2013). We are all aware that most of the people of the age of 16 are still in school, high school indeed, and most probably they may be interested in voting more so on those issues concerning the National Certificates of Education Achievement NCEA, something that might different among those of the age of 18 who many of them are past high school (Zeglovits & Aichholzer 2014).
On opposing the issue of lowering the voting age in New Zealand to 16 years, anyone who is below the age of 18 in most cases is not politically mature. They lack enough exposure to the field of politics; hence it is not easy for them to make the right decisions considering that they are still under adolescent age (Zeglovits & Aichholzer 2014). However, such a claim might be biased in that it is based on an immeasurable opinion. Not all 16-year-olds are politically immature and such an argument is harsh. Allowing those aged 16 to vote in New Zealand gives them a huge opportunity to set a good future for others to come and for them too.
References
Joseph, S., & Castan, M. (2013). The international covenant on civil and political rights: cases, materials, and commentary. Oxford University Press.
Taylor, M., Neslen, A., & Brooks, L. (2019). Youth climate strikes to take place in more than 100 countries—the Guardian, 14.
Zeglovits, E. (2013). Voting at 16? Youth suffrage is up for debate. European View, 12(2), 249-254.
Zeglovits, E., & Aichholzer, J. (2014). Are people more inclined to vote at 16 than at 18? Evidence for the first-time voting boost among 16-to 25-year-olds in Austria. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties, 24(3), 351-361.