WHAT’S NEW?
Next City: Why We Should Lower the Voting Age to 16
This detailed feature story explores the push to lower the voting age to 16 and features voices of youth leaders, researchers, and elected officials. Story by James A. Anderson, Illustrations by Eleanor Barba.
read moreVote16USA Youth Advisory Board Application 2020-2021
Applications For the 2020-2021 Vote16USA Youth Advisory Board are now live! Read on for additional information, and click here to apply. The deadline is July 26, 2020. The Vote16USA Youth Advisory Board is a group of young people from around the country who are...
read moreAnnouncing the Vote16USA Multimedia Storytelling Contest Winners
We are excited to announce the winners of the Vote16USA Multimedia Storytelling Contest! In a deep field of stellar submissions, these 10 stood out for their creative and compelling perspectives on lowering the voting age to 16. First Place: "Lowering the Voting Age"...
read moreMarch 12, 2020
Dear friend, I hope this note finds you well. I know we are all going through a stressful time, to say the least. In the midst of ongoing uncertainty, it’s been a bit of a respite to reflect on some positive news within the Vote16USA movement. I’m excited to share the...
read moreFebruary 11, 2020
Dear friend, We launched Vote16USA in 2015 by publishing a white paper that outlined the research behind the idea of lowering the voting age, progress to date, and where it was most feasible to pursue advocacy. That paper, which ultimately...
read moreData from Colorado Primary Makes Case for Lower Voting Age
Like data? New numbers from the Colorado presidential primary election on Super Tuesday show why age 18 is NOT the best time to begin voting if we want people to vote in their first election, building the habit. This year, for the first time, Colorado allowed...
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How Old Do You Have To Be To Vote? These Teen Activists Are Changing The Game
Members of our Youth Advisory Board are interviewed by Elite Daily to find out more about why youth activists feel so strongly about lowering the voting age, and how it will benefit our democracy.
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City Council Approves Petition to Lower Municipal Election Voting Age to 16
The Cambridge City Council approved an order that could potentially lower the voting age for Cambridge’s municipal elections.
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Institute’s New Report Proposes Bold Reforms to Increase Voter Turnout
Based on Interviews with Newark Residents, Our Vote, Our Power: Lifting Up Democracy’s Voices in the Garden State Proposes 11 Policies Including Lowering the Voting Age; Mandatory Civics Classes; Restoring the Vote to Incarcerated People; Same Day Registration; Term Limits; Full-Time Legislature; and Eliminating the “Party Line.”
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The 5 Greatest Vote16 Wins of 2019!
As the new year kicks off, let's look back at the top five wins for Vote16 in 2019. #1: 126 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Support Lowering the National Voting Age to 16 On March 8, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives held a vote on a proposed...
read moreMassForward: Advancing Democratic Innovation and Electoral Reform in Massachusetts
This report from MassINC suggests various structural reforms local and state governments can make to be more democratic and representative. Two key changes are making improvements to civics education and lowering the voting age.
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We Need to Lower the Voting Age
While young people represent the least reliable voting demographic by age in the United States, 18 to 24-year-olds have a significant stake in both local and national elections. Youth voters will experience the long-term effects of policy, so increasing youth voter turnout should be a top priority for our government.
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Let’s Lower the Voting Age in City Elections
One idea to increase voter participation is gaining traction: Let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in city elections. The idea is more limited than proposals Congress debated earlier this year to lower the national voting age for federal elections.
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Too Young to Vote? NJ Teens Say they Should Have a Say at 16
Almost a half-century after the U.S. lowered the voting age to 18 amid the war in Vietnam, young activists are pushing for the franchise to be expanded yet again — this time as low as 16 years old.
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Why Lowering the Voting Age Would Make for a Better Democracy
Young people are doing the work to address political issues that directly affect their health, their safety, and their future. They can speak to international bodies, they can lobby politicians, they can march, they can organize.
read moreI believe that voting should be the centerpiece of civic education.
Help Young Voices Be Heard