Let Us Vote!

Nathaniel Esubonteng felt determined as he approached the podium at his community’s city council meeting this past winter. The high school student from Newark, New Jersey, wanted a say in how his local school board is run—and this was his chance to make his voice heard.

School board members have a hand in everything from what students are served for lunch to the types of classes they are taught. But for decades, only Newark residents ages 18 and older have had a voice in electing members. Nathaniel and other young teens didn’t think that was fair.

In a brief but impassioned speech, Nathaniel urged the city’s leaders to lower the voting age to 16 for Newark school board elections.

“We’re at school eight hours a day with no real input in the things that are happening there,” says Nathaniel, 17. “I want young people to have a seat at the table—to have more control over their futures and the decisions being made about their education.”

Nathaniel Esubonteng went up to the podium at his community’s city council meeting this past winter. He is a high school student from Newark, New Jersey. He felt determined. He wanted a say in how his local school board is run. This was his chance to make his voice heard.

School board members have a hand in everything from what students are served for lunch to the types of classes they are taught. But for decades, only Newark residents ages 18 and older have had a voice in electing members. Nathaniel and other young teens did not think that was fair.

Nathaniel made a brief but passionate speech. He urged the city’s leaders to lower the voting age to 16 for Newark school board elections.

“We’re at school eight hours a day with no real input in the things that are happening there,” says Nathaniel. He is 17. “I want young people to have a seat at the table—to have more control over their futures and the decisions being made about their education.”

Teens in Culver City, California, hope their community will be next. They have their own branch of Vote16USA, called Vote16 Culver City. When this issue went to press, members of Vote16 Culver City were collecting signatures on a petition calling for a measure to be included on the ballot in next month’s election. That measure would let voters decide whether 16- and 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote in local elections.

The last time such a measure appeared on a Culver City ballot, in 2022, it lost by just 16 votes.

Julia Rottenberg, who was president of Vote16 Culver City until she graduated from high school this past spring, says the loss just motivated the group more.

“Each individual voice really does matter and can make a difference in a community,” the 18-year-old says. “Obviously, change is hard, but if the work wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t be as important.”

Teens in Culver City, California, hope their community will be next. They have their own branch of Vote16USA. It is called Vote16 Culver City. When this issue went to press, that group’s members were collecting signatures on a petition. The petition calls for a measure to be included on the ballot in next month’s election. That measure would let voters decide whether 16- and 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote in local elections.

The last time such a measure was on a Culver City ballot was in 2022. It lost by just 16 votes.

Julia Rottenberg was president of Vote16 Culver City until she graduated from high school this past spring. She says that loss just motivated the group more.

“Each individual voice really does matter and can make a difference in a community,” the 18-year-old says. “Obviously, change is hard. But if the work wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t be as important.”

Devon Lawson, 17, knows about hard work. The teen from Finn Rock, Oregon, has volunteered on roughly 25 political campaigns since he was in the fifth grade. 

When Devon was in middle school, he heard about teens in other parts of the country trying to gain the right to vote. That inspired him to act. He decided to try writing a bill to amend Oregon’s constitution to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local and state elections.

In 2022, Devon teamed up with state representative Rob Nosse. The lawmaker worked with him on drafting the bill and eventually helped introduce it in the Oregon Legislature. The bill stalled last year, which means it didn’t advance. But Devon isn’t giving up. As some lawmakers consider reintroducing the bill next year, he’s working to gather even more support in his state for a lower voting age.

For Devon, being able to vote is about having a say in critical issues that his generation will inherit, such as climate change. He says he doesn’t want to wait until he’s 18 for his opinion to count.

“Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are part of a politically active generation,” Devon told reporters. “We can make informed decisions on the ballot.” 

Devon Lawson, 17, knows about hard work. He is from Finn Rock, Oregon. He has volunteered on roughly 25 political campaigns since he was in the fifth grade.

When Devon was in middle school, he heard about teens in other parts of the country trying to gain the right to vote. That inspired him to act. He decided to try writing a bill to change Oregon’s constitution to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local and state elections.

In 2022, Devon teamed up with state representative Rob Nosse. The lawmaker worked with him on writing the bill. And Nosse eventually helped introduce it in the Oregon Legislature. The bill stalled last year, which means it did not advance. But Devon is not giving up. Some lawmakers are thinking about reintroducing the bill next year. So Devon is working to gather even more support in his state for a lower voting age.

For Devon, being able to vote is about having a say in important issues that his generation will inherit, such as climate change. He says he does not want to wait until he is 18 for his opinion to count.

“Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are part of a politically active generation,” Devon told reporters. “We can make informed decisions on the ballot.”

Still, supporters of lowering the voting age say teens deserve a voice. They point out that 16- and 17-year-olds who work pay taxes on their wages, just like adults do. 

What’s more, many teens are currently enrolled in high school government and civics classes, where they are studying how elections work. People in favor of allowing younger teens to cast ballots say it would help them put what they’re learning in the classroom to use in the real world.

That was a big motivator for DJ Yearwood of Kansas City, Missouri. He’s on a mission to lower the voting age in his state for city and school board elections. Last year, he founded a branch of Vote16USA. That organization, Vote16MO, is made up of 150 student volunteers across Missouri.

DJ says that allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to cast ballots in local elections will help motivate them to vote in federal elections when they are older. Several studies show that the earlier in life people vote for the first time, the likelier voting is to become a lifelong habit.

“Once teens have that ability to vote—and if they’re able to begin voting while they’re still learning about civics in school—they’ll be more likely to seek out information themselves and keep voting,” the 18-year-old says.

Still, supporters of lowering the voting age say teens deserve a voice. They point out that when 16- and 17-year-olds work, they have to pay taxes on their wages just like adults do.

Also, many teens take high school government and civics classes. So they study how elections work. Voting would help them put what they are learning in the classroom to use in the real world, some people say.

That was a big reason DJ Yearwood of Kansas City, Missouri, got active. He is on a mission to lower the voting age in his state for city and school board elections. Last year, he founded a branch of Vote16USA. It is called Vote16MO. The group is made up of 150 student volunteers across Missouri.

DJ says that letting 16- and 17-year-olds cast ballots in local elections will help spur them to vote in federal elections when they are older. Several studies show that the earlier in life people vote for the first time, the likelier voting is to become a lifelong habit.

“Once teens have that ability to vote—and if they’re able to begin voting while they’re still learning about civics in school—they’ll be more likely to seek out information themselves and keep voting,” the 18-year-old says.

Back in Newark, teens are ready to start voting. Earlier this year, the city council voted unanimously to lower the voting age to 16 for school board elections. The decision was thanks in part to input from Nathaniel and other young people. The historic move makes Newark—with a population of more than 300,000 people—the largest community in the U.S. to expand voting rights to young people in more than 50 years.

When this issue went to press, Newark election officials were programming the city’s voting registration machines to allow roughly 7,000 16- and 17-year-olds to enroll. That’s how many young teens will be eligible to vote in the city’s school board election next spring.

In the meantime, teens like Nathaniel and his friend Breanna Campbell are working to mobilize as many local 16- and 17-year-olds as possible to exercise their new right.

Both students are members of the Gem Project, an organization in Newark that works to engage young people in community service efforts. Along with other Gem Project members, they are volunteering at voter registration drives and helping to organize events where teens can learn more about the candidates. 

Breanna, 17, believes school board members need to prioritize more mental health services for students. She says she’s “extra motivated” to cast her first ballot. 

“Voting is more than civic duty,” she says. “It’s a powerful way to shape the world around us and make our democracy more vibrant and inclusive.” 

Back in Newark, teens are ready to start voting. Earlier this year, the city council voted unanimously to lower the voting age to 16 for school board elections. The decision was thanks in part to input from Nathaniel and other young people. The historic move makes Newark the largest community in the U.S. to expand voting rights to young people in more than 50 years. The city has a population of more than 300,000 people.

When this issue went to press, Newark election officials were programming the city’s voting registration machines to allow roughly 7,000 16- and 17-year-olds to enroll. That is how many young teens will be eligible to vote in the city’s school board election next spring.

In the meantime, teens like Nathaniel and his friend Breanna Campbell are working to mobilize as many local 16- and 17-year-olds as possible to exercise their new right.

Both students are members of the Gem Project. That is an organization in Newark that works to engage young people in community service efforts. The students and other Gem Project members are volunteering at voter registration drives. They are also helping to organize events where teens can learn more about the candidates.

Breanna, 17, believes school board members need to prioritize more mental health services for students. She says she is “extra motivated” to cast her first ballot.

“Voting is more than civic duty,” she says. “It’s a powerful way to shape the world around us and make our democracy more vibrant and inclusive.”