FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2016
Support for Youth Voting Ballot Measure Surges in Latest Poll, SHOWING PATH TO VICTORY FOR PROP F
New poll shows historic Proposition F nearing the 50% needed to win
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A poll released today by EMC Research shows victory is within reach for Proposition F, the historic ballot measure to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds for local and school board elections in San Francisco. The poll of 800 likely voters conducted both online and by phone shows 49 percent plan to vote yes on Prop. F and 5 percent undecided. Support among young voters is especially strong, with 60 percent of those under 40 in favor of the ballot measure. This is the first time in history a measure of this kind has been on the ballot in any city.
This poll result represents a substantial increase in support since the measure was placed on the ballot in May. The swell of support for Prop. F is due to youth leaders’ work to secure endorsements from the city’s most influential players and to bring their message to voters through a grassroots field operation.
Prop. F will help foster a culture of voting at an early age, leading to long-term improvements in voter turnout across future generations.
“Voter turnout is important for the future of San Francisco. Elections will impact everything from fixing our housing crisis, to improving our transportation system, and making our school district the best in the world. Voters understand this and that’s why support for Prop F is growing every day,” said School Board Vice President Shamann Walton.
The campaign, also known as Vote16SF, grew out of an effort of the San Francisco Youth Commission that began in 2014.
A partial list of supporters includes:
- Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
- The Democratic Party of SF
- All members of SF Board of Education
- State Senator Mark Leno
- Assemblymember David Chiu
- Assemblymember Phil Ting
- Public Defender Jeff Adachi
- All members of CCSF Board of Trustees
- United Educators of San Francisco
- SPUR
- Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
- Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club