March 3, 2021
Today, 125 members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment to the HR.1 “For the People Act” legislation to add a provision to lower the voting age to 16 for federal elections.
The amendment was authored by Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Grace Meng (NY-06), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), who introduced it with powerful remarks on the floor of the House. Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) also spoke in favor of the amendment on the House floor.
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The representatives powerfully made the case that voting at 16 will strengthen our democracy by increasing voter turnout, that 16 and 17 year olds are already on the front lines of efforts to address the defining crises of our time, and that young people who work, pay taxes, and support their families and communities deserve a voice at the ballot box.
The 125 members who voted for the amendment represent 43 states, including several states where youth-led activism is underway to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds for state or local elections. This show of support on the federal level will provide a significant boost to local efforts.
See if your member of Congress voted yes, and watch more action from the House floor today in the clips below. To learn more about efforts to lower the voting age on the state and local levels, sign up for our newsletter or reach out directly to Vote16USA.
