Claim: By lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 in the United States, young people will develop lifelong voting habits that will make them more concerned citizens. Counterclaim: Americans in the 18 to 29 age group have the lowest rates of voter turnout, so lowering the voting age to 16 is not likely to have any effect on voting habits. The student who wrote the claim is developing a revised claim as a rebuttal to the counterclaim. Which is the best revision? (1 point) Austria lowered its voting age to 16 in 2007, and this has led to Scotland, Wales, and three British crown dependencies also allowing 16-year-olds the vote. People of all ages deserve to have a voice, but especially those who are old enough to work and pay taxes, which includes 16-and 17-year-olds.Students usually study government and civics during the last two years of high school, so 16- and 17-years-olds find voting to be a way to engage with what they learn. Only one out of eight 18-year-olds voted in the most recent national election and lowering the voting age would be a great way to increase those numbers.

Question

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The best revision for the student's rebuttal to the counterclaim could be phrased as follows:

"While it is true that the 18 to 29 age group has the lowest voter turnout rates, evidence from countries like Austria, which lowered its voting age to 16 in 2007, demonstrates that engaging younger voters can foster a culture of participation. Furthermore, as 16- and 17-year-olds are often studying government and civics, allowing them to vote can enhance their connection to the democratic process and encourage lifelong voting habits. By empowering these young citizens, we may see a shift in voting patterns that could ultimately increase overall turnout, including in the critical 18 to 29 age range."