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San Jose Mercury News: West Valley teens travel to Sacramento to advocate for lowering voting age

Youth commissioners, in middle school and high school, from West Valley cities traveled to Sacramento last week to voice support for lowering the state voting age from 18 to 17.

On Aug. 29, 30 youth commissioners from Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, San Jose and Saratoga traveled by bus to the state capitol building to show support for lowering the voting age and to learn about their state government.

Los Angeles Times: California legislators say state should be a 'beacon of hope and opportunity' for DACA recipients

California lawmakers said Tuesday that they plan to protect young adults whose immigration status is jeopardized by the end of the DACA program. 

At news conference at the Capitol attended by more than 20 legislators, Senate Speaker Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) said California should be "beacon of hope and opportunity."

“We’re not going to allow one single executive decision on DACA to reverse generations of progress at the height of our historic diversity, economic output and our sense of global responsibility," he said. 

Students Rally Support to Lower the Voting Age

SACRAMENTO—Students and elected officials rallied in support for Assemblymember Evan Low’s proposal to lower the voting age from 18 to 17 in California. The press conference was part of a Capitol Day in which over 30 Youth Commissioners from six Bay Area cities learned about the legislative process and met with their state representatives.

 “It is our responsibility to inspire the next generation to become active and informed voters. Lowering the voting age will hook students while they are young, connected to their home towns, and learning about the legislative process,” said Assemblymember Evan Low.

Young voters (ages 18-24 years old) in California have the lowest turnout rate of any age demographic, leaving them drastically underrepresented. In the 2014 general election for instance, only 8.2% of California's eligible youth voted.  This is often because many 18 year olds are usually in a time of transition –graduating from high school, going to college, or getting a job. Lowering the voting age to 17 will catch youth at a time when they are still connected to their school, their home, and their community. 

Research has shown that the earlier in life one votes, the more likely they are to form a lifelong habit of voting.  As a result, there has been a nationwide movement to engage youth earlier in the electoral process.

Currently, eleven states allow 16 year olds to preregister to vote, including California. Twenty two states and the District of Columbia permit 17 year olds to vote in the primary elections or caucuses if the voter will turn 18 before the general election.

Two localities–Takoma Park and Hyattsville, Maryland–have gone even further, and allow 16 year olds to vote in their municipal elections.  Takoma Park held its first elections with 16 year olds voting in 2013 and Hyattsville had its first in 2015.

In addition to lowering the voting age, Assemblymember Low authored AB 189 to require the Instructional Quality Commission to create a service learning curriculum, which would teach high school students about civic responsibility. Like community service, students in service learning courses serve in their communities while incorporating the experiences directly in their school work. The bill is in Senate Appropriations.  

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 10 has passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will be heard next on the Assembly floor. As a constitutional amendment, ACA 10 requires a two-thirds vote of both houses of the state legislature as well as the approval of voters in order to take effect.

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Youth Commission Day at the Capitol

Youth Commissioners from six Bay Area cities came to Sacramento for the inaugural Capitol Day to learn about the legislative process and meet with their representatives.