I’m only 16, so it will still be a few years before I can vote. Even so, by paying attention to the current election, I've realized just how dissatisfied many people are with our choices being two old men. It feels like we’re stuck choosing between candidates who can't understand the issues that our generation will have to live with long after they are gone. 

But how do we fix this problem? I propose we amend the Constitution and eliminate the age limit for running for president. If we are old enough to vote at 18, we should be old enough to run for President of the United States.  

Why should the minimum age be 35? There are plenty of competent young leaders under 35 who deserve the opportunity to run for office. Young leaders bring a fresh perspective, which many believe is essential in a rapidly changing world. Without years of preconceived notions, a young president could offer nuanced views on issues while still valuing the guidance of older politicians.  Age does not determine capability, competence does.  Someone young is no less qualified to run than someone in their 70s or 80s. Eliminating the age restriction would empower a new generation of leaders, inspire greater political engagement, and ensure that the voices shaping our future come from those who will live with its consequences the longest. 

 When I was 15, I wrote The Popular Vote, a middle-grade political novel, because I believed in the importance of kids like me learning about politics in a non-biased and understandable way. In a time when young people have access to more information than ever, we shouldn’t limit their ability to run for president. Our generation is informed, passionate, and ready to lead.

If you’re also fed up with the lack of representation in government and the limited choices we have for president, sign this petition and join me in this call for change. The time is now to end the age restriction and allow a new generation of leaders to emerge.

Let's make history together.  Sign the petition, and be a part of the movement to bring fresh, young voices into the highest office in the land.

-  Dominic Fearn

https://dominicfearn.com/ : Visit my website to see the other ways I'm working to inform young people about politics