Constituent letter to Senator Dole in favor of lowering the voting age to 18 and Dole&#039;s response

Constituent letter to Senator Dole in favor of lowering the voting age to 18 and Dole's response

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Other Media: s-con_225_015_005_tr.txt

Transcription (Scripto): Read Full Text Only (TXT)
Extent (Dublin Core): 2 Pages
File Name (Dublin Core): s-con_225_015_005
Title (Dublin Core): Constituent letter to Senator Dole in favor of lowering the voting age to 18 and Dole's response
Date (Dublin Core): 1969-05-08
Date Created (Dublin Core): 1969-05-08/1969-05-20
Congress (Dublin Core): 91st (1969-1971)
Topics (Dublin Core): See all items with this value Voting age--Law and legislation
Policy Area (Curation): Government Operations and Politics
Creator (Dublin Core): Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021
Record Type (Dublin Core): correspondence
Rights (Dublin Core): http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Language (Dublin Core): eng
Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core): https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=31&q=
Physical Location (Dublin Core): Collection 003, Box 225, Folder 15
Institution (Dublin Core): Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Archival Collection (Dublin Core): Robert J. Dole Senate Papers-Constituent Relations, 1969-1996
Full Text (Extract Text): (page 1)
SENATOR BOB DOLE
RECIEVED
MAY 8 1969
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20510

{redacted}
Overland Park, Kansas
66207

Senator Robert Dole
United States Senate
Washington, D. C.

Dear Senator Dole:

As a result of an assignment made in American Government class as a means of getting better acquainted with our government officials I would like to request your stand on the issue of changing the voting age from 21 to 18.

I have read and thought about this issue for quite some time. I can see some of the reasons an 18 year old should vote and some of the reasons why he shouldn't. In becoming 18 I am concerned with the reality of being inducted into the armed services. This leads me to the argument that if a person can die for his country why can't he vote for the persons who put him in that position to die. I am sure you have heard this argument time and time again but may I relate some of my views on the matter.

I would like to say that I do not think the age of 18 is too young to be inducted if at this time the person is not engaged in any form of training , whether it be a university or some other form of preparation for a living in the future. If it so happens a young man is engaged in some form of the armed services at an age of under 21 he should be able to vote for whom he pleases in a national election. If the present system retains the voting age at 21 I do think they should raise the age that a young man may be drafted to this figure also. I am sure there are many factors contributing to this decision, most of which I an unfamiliar. As it stands now from my present point of view the age limit seems quite unfair. This problem could be said to be one of principle than anything else.

In conclusion I would like to say that I would appreciate any information you can supply me with on this matter. I would also like you to state your position on this issue. It will be of great help to me in my studies. Thank You Very Much for all of your help.

Sincerely Yours,
{redacted}
(end of page 1)

(page 2)
(the following line is handwritten with blue ink pen)
Voting Age

May 20, 1969

{redacted}
{redacted}

Overland Park, Kansas 66207

Dear {redacted}:

Thank you for your letter concerning the proposal to lower the voting age to 18.

I have long supported efforts to lower the voting age and sponsored legislation as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, over 15 years ago, to extend voting privileges to those 18 and above in state elections.

The valor of young people between 18 and 21 on the battlefield, their political involvement at home, and their deep concern for the complex problems of our times clearly indicate compelling reasons for them to be enabled to vote.

I support efforts in Congress to make the above possible and also favor similar proposals now before the Kansas Legislature.

Do let me know any time we may be of assistance in any way.

Sincerely yours,

BOB DOLE
U.S. Senate

BD: bl
(end of page 2)

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