By Indykids Staff
How many more years do you have to wait before you can vote? Too long say many including the National Youth Rights Association (NYRA). The NYRA is working with other organizations and legislators to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.
On June 8, 2005, a bill to lower the voting age to 16 was introduced in the NY City Council by Councilmember
Gale Brewer. The NYRA and the Future Voters of America Party worked for a year with Brewer to get this bill introduced. Now legislators and community activists are working to build support to pass the bill.
There are also active campaigns in the California Bay Area and Olympia, Washington to lower the voting age to 16. Proposals to lower the voting age enjoy widespread support. Many believe that if more youth can vote, it will increase voter participation and give greater voice to people who work and pay taxes.
Studies and polls show that youth want to vote, and that they know more about politics and government than adults do. In the words of Rosa Pleasant, age 9, “Yes, I want to vote. My vote could change the world.”
