Nationwide left-wing efforts to get 16-year-olds to vote are beginning to bear fruit
The movement led by Democrats to lower the legal voting age to 16, and in some cases even younger, is gaining momentum. Teenagers and activists are actively pursuing local victories and garnering support from certain voices in the media.
Recently, the “Vote 16” campaign achieved a significant win in Vermont. The state legislature, controlled by Democrats, successfully overturned the veto of Republican Governor Phil Scott. This action allows 16-year-olds to vote in municipal elections and hold the highest elected offices.
To be more specific, in the southern Vermont town of Brattleboro, 16- and 17-year-olds now have the right to vote. Additionally, if elected, young voters can serve on the community’s select board and represent the town at the annual town meeting, where local issues are decided.
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Representative Emilie Kornheiser, a Democrat from Brattleboro, emphasized last week that increasing youth participation in voting will contribute to their continued political engagement.
According to the Associated Press, Representative Emilie Kornheiser expressed, “Vermont is an aging state, and we take pride in our democracy and participation. I believe that by involving young people in this process, teaching them the skills of participation and politics with a lowercase ‘p,’ our communities will become stronger, and individuals will develop a greater sense of connection to their communities.”
Governor Phil Scott vetoed the bill at the end of May, citing concerns about inconsistencies in Vermont’s laws regarding the age of adulthood. In a letter to lawmakers, he stated, “I believe it is important to encourage young Vermonters to take an interest in issues that affect their schools, communities, state, and country. However, I do not support lowering the voting age in Brattleboro, nor do I support lowering the age to run for Town office and sign contracts on behalf of taxpayers.”
In Missouri, a statewide group is actively advocating for a reduction in the voting age to 16 for local and school board elections.
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Leading this effort is DJ Yearwood, a teenager who recently launched the Vote16MO campaign. The campaign aims to persuade Missouri lawmakers to introduce legislation in the upcoming session that would lower the voting age. Yearwood mentioned that the bill has the sponsorship of both a Republican and a Democratic representative, although their names cannot be disclosed at this time. The ultimate goal is to have a constitutional amendment on the ballot in next year’s elections to lower the voting age.
In a recent interview with St. Louis Public Radio, DJ Yearwood stated, “We are urging 16-year-olds to participate in government classes and learn about local government, only to wait for two years before they can apply that knowledge to their lives. Instead, we could implement it right now, while it would have the most intimate and meaningful impact on them.”
Yearwood believes that reducing the voting age would assist teenagers in transitioning into adulthood and enable them to approach politics independently, free from the influence of political parties.
He highlighted that under the current system, 18-year-olds are immediately immersed in party politics without having the opportunity to fully understand the essence of governance.
Yearwood contends that lowering the voting age would enhance civic education and participation. He argues that denying 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote could be seen as “taxation without representation” since teenagers in this age group also work and contribute taxes.
However, it is worth noting that Missouri’s top election official, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, does not support the Vote16MO campaign.
DJ Yearwood raised an important question in his interview with St. Louis Public Radio: “What if a 14-year-old is working on the family farm and earning money? Are we suggesting that they should have the right to vote?” He expressed the view that it is reasonable to expect individuals to be slightly older and possess a certain level of responsibility before participating in the voting process, acknowledging the need for maturity and understanding.
The movement to lower the voting age has faced opposition and legal challenges from election experts who disagree with the idea, extending beyond the state of Missouri.
Hans von Spakovsky of the Heritage Foundation expressed his strong opposition to the movement of allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, stating, “It is an extremely unwise push.” He emphasized that these individuals lack the judgment and maturity necessary to make important decisions, as evidenced by the fact that they are not legally considered adults and are restricted from engaging in various activities such as signing contracts, leasing apartments, purchasing cars, joining the military, and consuming alcohol.
Von Spakovsky questioned why they should be deemed mature enough to participate in the political process if they are unable to make these other significant decisions.
Critics who are against lowering the voting age often highlight that the teenage brain is still undergoing development and doesn’t fully mature until around the age of 25.
Citing a commonly referenced study from 2006, these critics argue that research in neuroscience indicates that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for weighing dilemmas, balancing trade-offs, and making rational decisions in politics, is still undergoing significant reconstruction and development during the teenage years.
In the midst of efforts to decrease the voting age, Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate, has recently put forth a proposal to amend the Constitution, suggesting an increase in the voting age from 18 to 25. However, the opposing side of the argument appears to be gaining traction.
Vermont and Missouri are not the only states witnessing campaigns to lower the voting age. In New Mexico, for instance, two Democrats introduced a bill earlier this year to permit 16- and 17-year-olds to register as voters starting in 2024.
In Oregon, a 15-year-old high school sophomore named Devon Lawson-McCourt recently garnered a commitment from Democratic state Representative Rob Nosse to propose a constitutional amendment granting the right to vote for 16- and 17-year-olds, as reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Returning to the East Coast, the Boston City Council granted approval to a petition in late 2022 that would enable 16- and 17-year-old residents to participate in municipal elections. Similarly, the town of Southborough in Massachusetts passed a petition in March, lowering the voting age to 17 for its residents. However, for both measures to take effect, they must receive approval from the state legislature.
Furthermore, in the previous month, the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing where advocates and lawmakers presented testimony in support of various bills aimed at lowering or potentially eliminating the voting age for certain elections.
John Wall, a professor of childhood studies at Rutgers University, expressed to the committee, “Only through suffrage can social groups effectively hold their governments accountable to their needs. It is incorrect and discriminatory to impose voting capacities on children while not applying the same standards. to adults. All adults possess the right to vote, regardless of severe dementia, cognitive disabilities, illiteracy, or intellectual limitations.”
In California, two cities, namely Oakland and Berkeley, and in Maryland, five cities including Takoma Park, Hyattsville, Greenbelt, Riverdale Park, and Mount Rainer, already allow 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in municipal elections. However, it is important to note that the implementation of this measure in both Oakland and Berkeley, located in Alameda County, is still pending.
In Howard County, Maryland, there is a movement to lower the voting age. This effort is particularly focused on the Board of Education, which consists of eight members, including one position designated for a student elected by their peers from grades six through 11. Typically, sixth graders fall within the age range of 11 to 12 years old.
On the other side of the Potomac River, a Virginia Democrat presented a bill last year, intended for introduction in the 2023 General Assembly, which proposes a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 16 specifically for local elections.
Delegate Sam Rasoul expressed the belief that granting 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in local elections would empower them to consider their civil responsibilities. He argued that despite being directly affected by significant decisions, young people currently lack sufficient representation.
In Culver City, California, an attempt to allow residents as young as 16 to vote in city and school board elections fell short during the previous year’s midterm elections. However, supporters of the Vote 16 movement were encouraged by the progress made. Andrew Wilkes from the organization Generation Citizen stated that the movement continues to gain interest and strength, providing a foundation for the younger generation to take up the cause in the future.
In January, Representative Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, introduced legislation at the federal level aimed at amending the Constitution to establish 16 as the minimum voting age nationwide.
Meng stated, “In recent years, we have witnessed the impact young people in our country have had on trends, political movements, and elections. They consistently advocate for critical issues they are deeply passionate about.
It is now time to grant them a voice in our democracy and recognize their dedication so that their voices can be heard at the ballot box. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds are legally allowed to work and drive, and they also contribute through federal income taxes. They are valuable members of our society, and I believe it is just and equitable to grant them the right to vote in our elections.”
Critics argue that the arguments put forth by proponents of lowering the voting age mask the true motive behind this effort: a desire to secure more votes.
Hans von Spakovsky, in an interview with Just the News last year, questioned why officials would suddenly believe that minors possess the ability and judgment to make significant political decisions, while simultaneously lacking trust in their capacity to make other important decisions, such as signing contracts. or serving on juries.
He contended that the motivation behind this push is purely political, driven by the belief that it will benefit elected officials in gaining votes. Von Spakovsky characterized this motive as crass and a betrayal of other constituents and voters whose influence may be diminished by the inclusion of younger voters.
According to an analysis of exit poll data conducted by Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, nearly a record-breaking 27% of voters aged 18 to 29 participated in the midterm elections of the previous year, marking the second-highest turnout in three decades. These young voters predominantly supported Democratic candidates across the nation.
In 2021, 125 House Democrats voted in favor of an amendment to the For the People Act, which encompassed various election rule changes supported by Democrats. The amendment sought to lower the voting age to 16 for federal elections.
Vote16USA, a group advocating for lowering the voting age to 16, asserts that establishing voting as a lifelong habit, the readiness of 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in elections, and ensuring they have a stake in the democratic process are all essential considerations. They also contend that lowering the voting age will contribute to the reinforcement of civics education.
In recent months, numerous well-known media outlets, including CNN, Rolling Stone, and various local publications, have published opinion pieces supporting the idea of lowering the voting age to 16.