Huh? Sky had no idea on that one. While she would like to vote in the upcoming election, she could see why it wouldn't be a very good idea. Some kids her age couldn't even decide on what flavor ice cream they liked! So maybe these types of things are better left to the adults....? And anyway, it was better if kids didn't have to think about these types of things. "I think it should be 18. At our ages, we just don't have the capability to make these kind of important decisions," she answered simply.

How old did she think people had to be to vote for the BoG? Well, honestly she thought that if a person went to Hogwarts they had the right to vote. The BoG directly affected all of the students in the school. Shouldn't that mean that they all get the chance to vote on their dictators, ahem, leaders? That was what Selina thought, at least. Seriously, even ickle first years should have the right to have a say in their BoG representatives.

Raising her hand, she said with a raised eyebrow, "Ma'am... everyone should have the right to vote if they attend Hogwarts. Okay? I mean, the BoG representatives affect us in the school. Why should the people who it is going to directly affect have no say?" It was not right. EVERYONE should vote. Yes, even people like Cambridge.

More jotting down of notes. All ears now too. She didn't so much care about elections in countries, but the elections for the Board of Governors in their school was enough to pipe up her attention and gain her interest. After all, Hogwarts was was their second home.

Hearing the question, Beezus' brows forked before she raised her hand. "Professor, I personally think that one can become a voter in the upcoming BoG elections if he/she is at least seventeen." Solid reason why? "Because wizards and witches come of age at seventeen. It's the phase where they are considered adults." Two years more to go for her. "And I think we need voters who understand, who are much more aware and responsible enough in choosing the people we trust could aid the students in uplifting Hogwarts' name." So, yeah.

Jory listened to a few responses then he went over the question in his mind. Finally, he raised a hand. "Professor, I think the age should be seventeen,'' the Puffer responded. "Because that is the age where it is considered a girl or boy is now officially an adult. They should be able to make sensible decisions.''

Alice was late...and she lost points. SIGH. This wouldn't go well later. She knew she would have to be all comforting towards her later; didn't mean she wouldn't lecture her for being late though!

Lex nearly pouted at that answer. The wizarding community? Despite being a part of said community she and anyone her age was usually left out of things. Did this mean they wouldn't get to vote too? They had to be allowed because she had to vote for Mr. Vinteren. The man was too nice to not get any votes! He gave her a chocolate frog! Not everyone on the board was walking around with those in their pockets for distraught 12 year olds around the school!

Lex took a sip of her kool-aid and listened as the Professor went on.

Good merlin, they had official ages for voting too? Now how was that supposed to be fair? Not every adult had a brain you know and most times it was the younger ones who saw what was really happening.

She sighed and listened to her classmates making guesses--well not really guesses since they were right. She thought to make a guess but, see, she DIDN'T know the answer....maybe the next question?



Reasons? Riiiiight, of course they'd all say they had reasons for not letting people under a certain age vote but those were obviously not legit reasons because they excluded her from their criteria.

Oh?

Now THIS she had an answer for. Lex raised her hand immediately. "Professor I think anyone 12 and older should get to vote in the upcoming elections because I'm among the youngest and I think even we deserve a vote because we'll be stuck with whatever the chosen ones set in order for the school. Normally I'd say 11 so the firsties can have some say too but after recent events I'm forced to believe that they may be lacking abit..." in the intellect department..."so yeah..." And there was her answer.

It was a good answer too.

Nod.

Alyssa thought long and hard before raising her hand. "Professor I think that the voter should at least possess some level of maturity in their thinking before they can be allowed to vote. I know that some people are saying that as long as one is a student in Hogwarts, that they should be allowed to vote, and I believe that too." Alyssa paused to look around. She knew that what was saying would not be agreed upon by everyone.

"But as the same time, we all know that except for a few 1st and 2nd years who are matured in their thinking, most of them aren't. Voting is a big responsibility and shouldn't be taken lightly. So I say from 3rd years onwards. However, if the Head of House deems someone younger than that to be capable of understanding the seriousness of what voting is all about, then they too can vote."

There she had said it. Now she had to prepare herself to be the most unpopular 6th year amongst the young ones after having said that.

Eliza had agreed that she thought most voting ages were eighteen years old, but she really wasn't sure of any other countries than the ones that had already been said, so she didn't raise her hand.

The next question Professor Cerulean raised had her very interested though. What age should witches and wizards be allowed to vote? Well...everyone matures at different rates...but... She decided to just ramble her thoughts aloud instead of sorting them inside first. That was what she was best at anyways. "I know that everyone matures at different rates...so a case by case basis would seem the most fitting...but that would be really hard to manage, so I think since seventeen is the adult age in our society, that's the age we should be allowed to vote at as well. Even though there are some people of age, and even older than that, that maybe aren't ready for that responsibility...In fact some people it's downright scary that they can vote... But anyway, it's just easier to regulate a set age. So I say seventeen." Long-winded? Yes. But the professor had said to explain, so explain she had.

The age of twenty-one seemed too old. Kat couldn't wait for the time when SHE could actually vote. Maybe it was because it meant she was finally legal and stuff. She could do things independently and she could even do spells OUTSIDE of Hogwarts. That would be awesome right? It was for pranking reasons, and also in case you get into a situation wherein you need to use a spell. Sometimes the legal age rule whatever was a bit dumb. What if some crazy dementor thjat got loose from Azkaban went to attack you, huh? You can't just stand there and wait until you got an absolutely disgusting kiss.

Alright, enough with the rants.

What age was required to make them vote? This was an easy question. "I'd have to agree with the others, Professor, that we have to be at least seventeen to vote for the Board of Governors election," Kat said. "It's the age of legality here in the Wizarding World." Nodnod. "But I already have an inference that we, students, could vote for the election this coming Spring." It was something new, right? This hasn't happened before and stuff. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a class dedicated to all elections if they weren't going to vote. It would be pointless.

Tiffany was never interested in any of those political issues. If she was not picked as one of the BoG debate committee members, she would not ask anyone else about them and their purpose of being here with them. She remembered that when she was small, there were elections of the chief executive every four years in her town and stuff like that. Elections in the Muggle World. But her parents never participated in any of those. They didn't vote for anyone because they didn't care.

"Back in the Muggle World, people that are 18 or above would have the right to vote as they will be considered as adults by then..."she answered. "I guess it would be pretty much the same here. Adults should be able to vote because they are more mature by then and can analyse one's policy and fully understand them." She nodded while others thought that 17 would be a better choice than being 18 or above. Was the scale different here?

The professor was having to do a LOT of clarifying huh? West wrinkled his brow. Was SHE from America? Was that why she kept going on about the United States?

Why was....? West looked around to see if there was a reason that the professor was so.... excited. It was a little unnerving. He was suspicious. He put his hand up though. "Professor, I don't think the Board of Governors elections have anything at all to do with the national Elections what Muggles run. For starters, as people said, in the Wizarding World, you're of age when your 17, even though we are in the United Kingdom and there are different ages applying to different things for British Muggles and all that. 17 is the obvious answer. Most kids I know wouldn't even think about what voting for different people properly means. We'd just vote for whoever was pretty, or whoever gave us candy, or whoever dresses the nicest, or even whoever we already knew." He looked at the professor but kept his hand up.

"I think there's a smarter way for us students to have a voice. We could have our own elections, after this one that we can't vote in is done with, to have student representatives that can go to board meetings and represent our interests and our viewpoints." It was just an idea? He was sure that there were kids what would want to do that.

Oichi raised her hand, "I think it should be 17 because you are then of age in the wizarding world and can use magic all you want with no one tracking you. Once a witch or wizard can be trusted to that degree they should able to vote. They are the ones who are also looking for jobs or working, the rest of us are still in school.".

Christmas thought about the professor's question and raised her hand and said "Well i think that the voting age should be 17 as that is the age that you can use magic all you want in the wizarding world and you won't get into trouble and that you can be trusted to vote sensibly"

Laura looked at the Professor and raised her hand. "I think we all should have a vote since it is really important and it is something that affects us all." Laura smiled as she spoke to the Professor.

Sitting there the whole time and listening to professor talk about politics was making Zack sleepy but still there was something about the lesson that made him hear what professor had to say. Voting was a very importing thing in all countries but he was never interested in it but still it was something that ever individual had to do. So according to him the perfect age for voting should be 18 since that was the age teenagers were knowledgeable enough for them to decide who they should vote for. He raised his hand and said "Professor, according to me, i think the perfect age for voting should be 18 year because that is when everyone is responsible enough to know whom they should vote for" he said bring his hand down.

"Oh, yeah," Sierra said, with one simple upward nod of her head. "That guy." He was Mo's uncle? Well, I'll be a Monkey's uncle. You learn something new everyday. So she and Mo had a little in common. Who was Mo anyway? Was that that guy from the opening feast? The one Odessa was asking so many questions about?

...and why was Sierra asking so many questions? Was West rubbing off on her?

Merlin!

Sierra had been in such deep thought about asking questions that she forgot to answer one. She frowned to herself then copied down some notes.

• People say you have to be either 18 or 21 in most countries in order to vote.

"Definitely seventeen," Sierra said, raising her hand. "It's the age we get to apparate and graduate school. I think if we're old enough to travel alone, we should be old enough to know how to properly cast a vote." Yup. It only made sense. "Plus, if we're graduating, we've learned all the basics of our magical world. I think we'd know enough by then to be able to vote." What's waiting one more year going to do anyway?

Daichi was writing down notes on his piece of parchment somewhere in the back. He listened to what the Professor and his classmates were saying about voting and what not and found that it was pretty boring and he couldn't wait to go outside and to the duck pond. His friends were waiting there!

Still, he knew that he couldn't just leave, so he placed his quill down and raised his hand when another question came. "Professor? I think the voters should be atleast sixteen or seventeen years old. Because any younger students from age eleven till fourteen should not be thinking about elections and stuff cause they have to have fun right? And i'm not sure an eleven year old will be interested anyways ... " he took a breath and continued "I'm still wondering about fifteen year olds cause on one hand they are pretty mature to know what is going on but at the same time, fifth years have OWLS to study for and thinking about who to vote at the same time is bad for their poor brains."

"Sooooo, i guess sixteen or up will be a perfect age to start voting. 'Cause those students have more experience in the school and are more mature and would actually look deeper than just voting for a random person.

He lowered his arm after speaking and smiled.

Hearing Daichi answer, say about the poor minds of the fifth year students giving OWLS, she smirked, then grinned wide. Hehe.. She really hadn't thought that!

Then her turn. Ira just lazily raised her hand up and answered the next question, "As others said, 17 is THE age." You know, like, the age to do everything. "I mean, we graduate from school, and go to university, and some others even start working. Or get married." So that meant that they were all grown up.

And most of all, she too agreed with some others that anyone younger than that didn't worry or didn't need to worry about all the election and voting stuff.

Alex thought this answer was a no-brainer. He raised his hand with a grin, ready to explain his awesome answer. "Well I think it should be 17 for the Board of Governors election. That's the age that you become 'of age' here in the Wizarding World, and you gain most of your legal rights at that age. Why not vote too? It seems silly to wait another year," he said with a shrug.

The professor raised her eyebrows at the boy's answer and his suggestion, "That's a great idea...maybe you should speak with the Headmistress about your idea...I can see lots of benefits with your idea for both students and the Governor members...." she said with a little nod up and down approvingly.



The professor listened intently to all of the student's answers and then when things died down a little bit she replied, "You all have great reasoning behind your answers. I'm very impressed that some of you thought out of the normal ages and even considered the maturity of some of the younger students. You all had great answers and great ideas to back your age idea." she said with a smile as she walked over to a string and pulled on it. "As a couple of you mentioned, the Board of Governor elections are important but are not near as intense and as important as a national election, so the age of people being allowed to vote in a national election is usually set older."

When she pulled, a screen came down from the ceiling and hung behind her head, "Now some of you mentioned that students needed to be older so that were mature enough to not fall for simple items from candidates such as candy and other things that can be used to buy their votes. There have been lots of campaigns in history where the candidates have shaped their campaign and platforms to attract the younger voters, because they realize that they are young and impressionable." she paused hoping that what she was saying made sense.

"Think about elections of the past, both Muggle and Wizard, both nationally or locally. Can you think of an example where the candidate did something that was specifically designed to catch the eyes and ears of younger voters?" she asked and then added, "For example, when I was younger here at Hogwarts, we had a class elected Student Government. The person running for President promised some amazing things, such as butterbeer machines in the Great Hall and a Snog Zone in the Courtyard, and many people voted for him because of that...despite the fact that the Headmistress of that time would've never approved that and that this boy was responsible for loosing over 400 pts for his house that term...luckily he lost by three votes in the end."

Laura looked at the Professor and smiled. "In the 2010 General Election in the United Kingdom, the BNP Party said they would kick everyone out that wasn't born in Britain, even though no one would actually allow it people still voted for them because of this idea, though luckily they didn't get in." Laura smiled it was really weird that people would promise weird stuff like that.

Christmas sat and thought about anything she remembered about any past elections that stood out and raised her hand and said "Well in 2002 french election it was the first time that a right-wing candidate took part in any election"

Eliza considered how people who wanted to be in power might say and do things to get their way. Shouldn't they be held accountable for what they say and promise though? That would make the most sense to her, then people couldn't just lie to get people to like them. Another tough thing to regulate I suppose. Can you really punish someone for lying? It's not illegal...but it's still not right. She frowned at the thought and hoped she hadn't been lied to in the past to get her to be on someone's side.

"Well, it wasn't exactly an election...but an uprising sort of thing. When Voldemort was trying to come to power again, he appealed to troubled people by making them feel like they would be a part of something bigger than themselves. He made them feel like they would have a fellowship and protection in their group. So that's sort of like a politician promising groups of people things that he or she knows they really want." She felt sorry for some of those people who joined as Death Eaters. They couldn't all have been that bad, could they? Maybe some of them just got caught up in it, or felt like they had no choice. She hoped after that was all over that those types of people were able to get away and change their lives. This lesson was becoming sort of a downer in her mind, even though she really thought the professor meant it to be motivational. What will the candidates in the room think of everything we're saying? Are they offended by us picking apart how elections happen? She didn't think anyone meant any harm to their personal efforts, so she hoped they would be okay.

Belle heard the professor's question. At what age do you think you are allowed to vote? Belle thought hard about it...then she made up her decision.

"Professor i think the age of 18 you are allowed to vote. You are considered mature and a adult. You are allowed to make your own decisions. Along the way you will learn what decisions matter the most. I even agree with Alyssa said too, the younger generation matter too. Their voices should be heard.

Jory raised a hand. "In the General Elections of 2009 in India, there was a coalition of three of the country's alliances,'' he said. That would help get younger voters, right? "They said they new ideas and promised to do better than the previous group.''

Melody twirled her hair bored as she ever could be... OH! something she did know... "Well it may not been for election or for voting but, Dolores Umbridge used her powers to please the Cornelius Fudge and hide the fact that ... Lord er Voldemort." There she went again almost called Voldemort, Lord Voldemort. She was warned by this. Not everyone had the same political views as her family did even after so many years had passed... which meant she would have too choose her words carefully,"was back. She was power hungry and did whatever she could to gain a promotion. She almost used a forbidden curse to get what she want. And I bet she would possibly twist the story around to look even better in Fudge's point of view, and gain more power... if she got away with it. As evil as she seemed to most people... I assume. It was very well played out. Instead of pleasing the people she pleased her boss to climb up the corporate ladder."