Berkeley is known nationwide as a hotspot for political activity, which is unquestionably echoed in Berkeley High School. Whether they are protesting about foreign politics or climate change, BHS students are extremely vocal and proud of their political opinions. However, as relatively few BHS students are 18, they cannot vote in many elections, but this is changing. This year, all Berkeley residents 16 and older will be able to vote in an official election, specifically for the district superintendent. This addition of voting rights to 16 and 17 year-olds was spearheaded by Vote16USA, a national campaign geared at providing American high school students, and others, with a voice.
Youths’ voices are important and should be heard. Our world is changing fast, and in order to shape the future of society, the current generation of high schoolers must have some political power. Achieving the right to vote for superintendents for those 16 and above is the first step to gaining more control over our future.
Alameda County is the first county in California history to allow individuals under the age of 18 to vote in an election involving a government official. This is a step in the right direction. By allowing Berkeley residents aged 16 and older to vote, more will be inspired to educate themselves about politics. BHS already offers several popular politics-centered courses, specifically Politics and Power, Law and Social Justice, and AP United States Government. By changing the voting age to 16, students will be able to directly use information from these classes as they are learning it. This also means that students will likely be more educated about politics while they are voting because the coursework will be fresh in their minds.
The 2022 national election had the lowest 18 to 25 year-old voter turnout since 2014, at 23 percent. By inviting younger Americans to vote, the US can counteract this downward voter turnout trend. According to a research paper published in the National Library of Medicine, “In the long term, this higher level of participation at a young age may then facilitate the early development of a habit of voting.” By allotting youth the power to vote, the US would build a stronger base for future politics.
One of the largest problems Americans have with lowering the voting age to 16 is their belief that individuals aged 16 to 18 aren’t mature enough to grasp politics logically, but this isn’t true. According to Vote16USA, “A study comparing the qualities associated with voting — such as civic knowledge, political skills, and political interest — among citizens 18 and older and citizens below 18 found no significant differences between 16-year-olds and those above age 18.
16 and 17 year-old Americans are ready and able to vote and have more direct resources to learn about politics than their older peers, making them ideal candidates to receive voting rights.
By allowing 16 and 17 year-olds to vote, more Americans will be able to vote, and our democracy will also strengthen. According to another research paper conducted at Tufts University, “only 56 percent of young people, ages 18-24, choose to affiliate with the Democratic or Republican parties.” Although the United States currently runs as a two-party system, it doesn’t have to. By allowing a broader array of political ideas in government, not only can the American democracy accurately portray the country’s wants, but it will also unite Americans. Although this isn’t a guaranteed outcome of lowering the voting ages, providing the future with a broader voice is the first step towards diversifying politics in the US.