Who should have the right to vote?

Recently, I asked my 8th grade students to tell me who should have the right to vote after finishing up the Progressive Era Unit. I've adjusted for spelling. This is what they said:


"I think people over 21 should vote. No, I don't think you should vote in jail because you are punished. Illegal immigrants should vote because no matter who you are you should vote. If you are 21, then you are more responsible. Everyone over 21 should vote because you are human"

"Women should have the right to vote. You should be allowed to vote when you are 16. You should not be allowed to vote in jail because you did something bad to get in there. People are not allowed here to vote if they are illegal immigrants"

"Everyone should have the right to vote because all people think differently. People in jail should have the right to vote and illegal immigrants should have the right to vote. Everyone should have the right to vote"

"The people that are allowed to vote should be men and women. They should be men and women who are not in jail, illegal immigrants or people under the age of 18. Illegal immigrants should't vote because they aren't American citizens until they are made citizens. Women should have the right to vote because they've done a lot."

"Everybody should have the right to vote. You should be 18 years old to vote. You should be able to vote if you are in jail. No illegal immigrants should be able to vote. Women should be able to vote."

"Kids over 12 should be able to vote because we have rights just as older people. At 13 we have just as much rights as 18 year olds. People in jail should not have the right to vote because you are in there because you did something wrong so you should not have a say. Yes, immigrants should have the right to vote because they have as much a say."