Some older Bay Space youngsters could have an opportunity to make their voices heard this election — albeit in restricted style.
Whereas nonetheless barred from voting on higher-profile races reminiscent of these for president or Congress, 16- and 17-year-olds dwelling in Oakland and Berkeley will likely be in a position to forged ballots in upcoming faculty board elections, which decide the management and insurance policies of native districts.
The vote was prolonged because of the passage of Berkeley’s Measure Y1 and Oakland’s Measure QQ, in response to a joint information launch.
The state already has a system that pre-registers 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, and their registration turns into energetic as soon as they flip 18, officers stated. The identical system will likely be used to permit them to vote of their native faculty board elections, however not different races scheduled on the similar time, in response to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
“This has by no means been performed earlier than in California and we needed to be sure that it was performed correctly,” Alameda County Registrar of Voters Tim Dupuis stated in an announcement. “I want to thank the Board of Supervisors for his or her help in serving to make it potential for 16- and 17-year-olds in Oakland and Berkeley to vote for college board in November 2024.”
4 of seven board seats within the Oakland Unified College District are up for election in November, as are two within the Berkeley Unified College District.
“Voting is not only a proper however a civic responsibility, and lengthening this proper to 16- and 17-year-olds will foster a tradition of civic participation from an early age,” Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao stated in an announcement.
Although the aim of this new coverage is to extend youth voter turnout, its results gained’t be recognized till the polls shut. And lots of minors nonetheless might choose to not vote.
“Me, personally, I’m not that political, particularly with right now’s requirements,” Naseem Bennett, a 17-year-old Oakland Tech senior, informed the Mercury Information. “However would I vote? I’d give it some thought.”
