The Democrat-majority Vermont Legislature is advancing a bill allowing anyone age sixteen and up to vote in local elections and run for elected office. The city of Brattleboro is asking, but I can’t imagine cities like Burlington taking a pass on this if it passes. But there are problems.
“A youth voter who is elected to a Town office shall be capable of performing all duties and exercising all powers of that office, including the formation and execution of contracts relating to the office or official duties,” H.386 states.
Yet at the same time, contracts signed by Vermonters under 18 are not legally binding, except in very narrow situations such as the buying of some annuities.
Can the Legislature carve out an underage right to sign contracts on the behalf of thousands of other people, while denying the right to sign personal contracts?
I can’t think of too many high schoolers in my era that would be worth risking a vote on for any elected office back then. These days between tide pods, TikTok, and gender dysphoria, it’s much to risk. It does add a block of (mostly) reliable brain-washed (or washable) Democrat voters, which (in my humble opinion) is the goal.
Democrats like power and will advance any idea they think will prolong or expand their grasp.
Lowering the voting age is not an uncommon topic from the left side of the aisle but, by itself, stands little chance of support, so allowing them to run for office is a smoke screen. Hide it in a piece of legislation permitting some minors to run for office, and it looks like something else.
Unfortunately for Vermont, at least one of their Democratic State Senators thinks electing minors is irresponsible.
“What I cannot get over is a 16- or 17-year-old serving on an elected council,” Sen. Tom Chittenden (D-Chittenden) said. “I don’t think they should serve.” First, a good lawyer could “make hay” of any board decisions put into effect by a minor. Also, making controversial decisions invites severe criticism — even death threats — on social media, and teenagers shouldn’t be exposed to that, Chittenden said.
The legal hurdles aside, the radical left show runners producing this season’s episodes of “As Vermont Dies” want what they want—underage voting. If they can get it they will deal with underage candidates in primaries, and the rest of it is moot until someone under 18 gets into elected office.
If that doesn’t work out, they’ll push the underage official out and find a way to keep the age group voting without the opportunity to run for office.
It’s truly all they are after.
HT | True North Reports
