Comm2_MHD2_Somozo

Concept Paper
1

RAISE YOUR VOICES

Somozo, Beah Davee Marie Hortelano

2014-35733
May 28, 2015
University of the Philippines, Manila

Prof. Hope Bayani Quijano

Comm2_MHD2_Somozo
Concept Paper
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RAISE YOUR VOICES

Thesis statement:
Studies show that there are several reasons as to why the youth should be able to vote at 16 where they are
already allowed to drive, pay taxes and even live on their own.

I.

Since at 16, the youth are already allowed to drive, pay taxes and even live on their own, they
should be allowed to vote.

II. The youth should be able to vote for they show the proper mental readiness, voting quality and
engagement.
A. There is a study disproving the concerns as to why the youth should not be able to vote.
B. There is a study that shows that the youths voting quality is on par with the average adults.
C. There is a study that states that youth engagement in politics can have a trickle-up effect
on their parents and peers.
D. A youth panel was used in order to screen those running for positions.
III. The youth deserves a voice in society since we are societys future.

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Concept Paper
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Raise Your Voices
In the Philippines, the age to vote is currently at 18. I propose that we lower it to 16. At this age,
we are transitioning between adolescence and adulthood. We are allowed to drive. To pay taxes. Some even
live on their own at this age. At 16, most of the Filipino youth are either still in high school or have just
entered college where they will most likely stay in until they graduate. We should be allowed to vote.
According to a study done by a team of the University of Edinburghs School of Social and Political
Science led by Dr. Jan Eichhorn (2014), lowering the voting age to 16 can be an opportunity to improve
youth political engagement. The research has disproved 4 concerns against lowering the voting age. The
first was that the youth are simply not interested with politics. According to their data, the levels of political
interest of the youth are equivalent to those of adults on average. And although they are less attracted to
traditional institutions, they are willing to engage in classic forms when actual issues are concerned. The
next concern was that the youth will simply follow their parents political choices so they need not vote.
Their study showed that more than 40% of the youth actually had different political views from their
parents. However they do understand the importance of voting from their parents. Another was that even if
there are no negative consequences, why cant the youth wait for 2 more years? The research showed
increased student political confidence and closeness to a political party when the issues are discussed in
class which cannot be replicated by any other institution. The last concern was that schools should not
engage with political debate to avoid inappropriate politicization. Students political understanding and
engagement is not necessarily enhanced by classes teaching political structures. But schools should allow
an environment where students can have informed political discussions. Another research also stated that
while turnout levels of young people are relatively low, the quality of their votes are similar to that of older
voters, enabling their interests to be represented well (Wagner, Johann, & Kritzinger, 2012). Another study
also stated that youth engagement can have a trickle up effect on their parents, encouraging their parents
to be more politically active (McDevitt & Kiousis, 2006). According to the census of the National Statistics
Office of the Philippines (2014), approximately 2% of the whole population of the Philippines are between
the ages of 15 17. These youth would also engage in healthy conversations and debates about politics
with their family and peers to be more active in the politics. And there have also been incidences in certain
countries that the youth are part of the screening process of those running for positions (Srivastava, Seth,
& Niekerk, 2013).
The youth deserves to have a voice in the society. We still are part of it, no matter how old we may
be. We should have the right to be involved in it since it affects each and every one of us. We have the right
to control or at least have a say on things that directly involves us and our future. Our future is also the
societys future, isnt that right?

Comm2_MHD2_Somozo
Concept Paper
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Bibliography

Eichhorn, J. (2014). How lowering the voting age to 16 can be an opportunity. Retrieved April 29, 2015,
from
http://www.politischepartizipation.de/images/downloads/dpart_Eichhorn_16VotingAge_Briefing.
pdf
McDevitt, M., & Kiousis, S. (2006). Experiments in Political Socialization: Kids Voting USA as a Model
for Civic Education Reform. CIRCLE: The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning
& Engagement. Retrieved April 29, 2015, from
http://civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP49McDevitt.pdf
National Statistics Office. (2014). Philippines in Figures 2014. Quezon City: National Statistics Office.
Srivastava, R. N., Seth, R., & Niekerk, J. V. (2013). Child Abuse and Neglect: Challenges and
Opportunities. New Delhi, India: JP Medical Ltd. Retrieved April 29, 2015, from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=SgpEpebbhWcC&pg=PA233&dq=Lowering+the+voting
+age+to+16&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ERpGVf7zDYKwmwW85oDAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q
=Lowering%20the%20voting%20age%20to%2016&f=false
Wagner, M., Johann, D., & Kritzinger, S. (2012). Voting at 16: Turnout and the quality of vote choice.
Electoral Studies, 31(2), 372383. doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2012.01.007

1
Comm 2 Prof. Hope Bayani Quijano
Tentative Bibliography
Section: MHD2

Name: Beah Davee Marie H. Somozo

Score:

Degree: BS-Biochemistry

Date: May 28, 2015

A. I decided to work on the topic: Voting Age

B. My tentative title for my concept paper is:
Raise Your Voices
C. The contextual focus of my paper is written/typed below:
Topic: Voting Age
Purpose: To understand about the voting age and the effects of lowering the voting age
Relevance: The youth is a very important factor of the society. They are in charge of the
societys future. I, myself, am 16.
Audience: Youth of the affected age group, politicians, families with 16 -17 year olds, local
and national government
Subject Area: Philippines

D. The following are the combinations of key words that I use to search online materials and
online library catalogues to find relevant articles and books:
1. Demography of the Philippines
2. Reasons to lower the voting age
3. Lower the voting age
4. Lower the Voting Age Research
5. Lower the Voting Age Newspaper Articles
6. Lowering the Voting Age to 16 Books

E. I have checked the library resources, and found the following resources;
Complete Bibliographic Citation using correct APA

Type of APA

This book (or newspaper article,

style format for documentation:

Source:

journal article, etc.) is useful

(Add the name of the library and Call Number for

because

print, non-e sources)

1. Barford, V. (2014, September 23). Should 16-year- Newspaper

It gave a different opinions on a

olds get the vote following referendum? BBC News.

recent incident involving the

Article

topic.

2
Retrieved April 29, 2015, from
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29327912
2. Eichhorn, J. (2014). How lowering the voting age

Journal Article

to 16 can be an opportunity. Retrieved April 29,

It disproved 4 concerns against

the lowering of voting age.

2015, from
http://www.politischepartizipation.de/images/downlo
ads/dpart_Eichhorn_16VotingAge_Briefing.pdf
3. Hart, D., & Atkins, R. (2011). American Sixteen-

Journal Article

It proved that 16 17 year olds

and Seventeen-Year-Olds Are Ready to Vote. The

are mature enough to vote, both

ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and

neurologically and socially.

Social Science, 633(1), 201-202.

doi:10.1177/0002716210382395
4. McDevitt, M., & Kiousis, S. (2006). Experiments

Report

It showed data on the trickle up

in Political Socialization: Kids Voting USA as a

effect of youth voting to their

Model for Civic Education Reform. CIRCLE: The

parents.

Center for Information & Research on Civic

Learning & Engagement. Retrieved April 29, 2015,
from
http://civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP49
McDevitt.pdf
5. Wagner, M., Johann, D., & Kritzinger, S. (2012).

Journal Article

It proved that the quality of

Voting at 16: Turnout and the quality of vote choice.

voting of the youth is equivalent

Electoral Studies, 31(2), 372383.

to those of the older age groups.

doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2012.01.007
6. National Statistics Office. (2014). Philippines in

Report

Figures 2014. Quezon City: National Statistics

It holds the statistics of the

population of the Philippines

Office.
7. Terris, B. (n.d.). Could a Maryland Town Allow

Journal Article

It talks about the possibility of

16-Year-Olds to Vote? National Journal. Retrieved

the voting age being lowered in a

April 2015, 29, from

town.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/could-amaryland-town-allow-16-year-olds-to-vote20130402
8. Srivastava, R. N., Seth, R., & Niekerk, J. V.
(2013). Child Abuse and Neglect: Challenges and

Book

It gave examples of incidents

where the youth were included in

3
Opportunities. New Delhi, India: JP Medical Ltd.

the panel for choosing who were

Retrieved April 29, 2015, from

qualified to hold position.

https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=SgpEpebbhW
cC&pg=PA233&dq=Lowering+the+voting+age+to+
16&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ERpGVf7zDYKwmwW85oD
AAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Lowering%20the
%20voting%20age%20to%2016&f=false
9. Olle, H. (2002). Young Europe: What young

Electronic

It has data on how the youth of

people between the ages of 9 and 14 think about

Book

Europe thinks about participation

participation, politics and Europe. London, England:

and engagement in politics.

National Children's Bureau Enterprises Ltd.

Retrieved April 29, 2015, from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=QHwBIlzclE
kC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_
r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
10. Grover, S. C. (2010). Young Peoples Human

Book

It has different topics on the

youths voting age.

Rights and the Politics of Voting Age. Ontario,

Canada: Springer Science & Business Media.
doi:10.1007/978-90-481-8963-2
11. Birch, S., Clarke, H. D., & Whiteley, P. (2015).
Should 16-Year-Olds Be Allowed to Vote in
Westminster Elections? Public Opinion and Electoral
Franchise Reform. Parliamentary Affairs, 68(2), 291313. doi:10.1093/pa/gsu019

Journal Article

It argues why we should not

lower the voting age.

1
Comm 2 Prof. Hope Bayani Quijano
Concept Paper

Modified Cornell Note Taking System for Readings and Research

Student Name: Beah Davee Marie Somozo

Degree Program: BS-Biochemistry

Source Citation Information in APA Format:

This is where you provide who, what, where, when, etc. (Title/s, author/editor, publicatio info,
copyright date of publication, page numbers, URL).
Indicate the type of source: (e.g. magazine)

What are your gathered facts?

Pg. #

Think: What did I learn?

What do I understand better?

Original Text: Re written or cut & pasted

Whats the main idea? What

new questions do I have?
Record as: Summary,
paraphrase, quote, outline
Indicate type of Notation:
e.g. Summary, paraphrase,
quote, outline = based on
Record as
Add other uses of cited
texts: a new question, a key
word, inights, inferences and
then put in parenthesis:
(other uses)

May be encoded or handwritten