Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety to consider Charles Allen’s bill lowering DC voting age to 16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2018

Contact: Erik Salmi

Thursday: Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety to consider Charles Allen’s bill lowering DC voting age to 16

This Thursday, the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety will vote to move forward Committee Chairperson Charles Allen’s bill that proposes lowering the voting age in all DC and presidential elections from age 18 to 16.

When: Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 9:30 am

Where: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004, in Room 123

The Youth Vote Amendment Act of 2018 was introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen on April 10, 2018, with six co-introducers, including four of five members of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. The bill needs a majority of the committee’s votes to move forward.

The bill would allow all District residents to register and vote in all elections held in the District of Columbia beginning at the age of 16 – including elections for president, and theoretically, senators and representatives when the District becomes a state.

“At the age of 16, your legal relationship with the government changes. Young people work and pay income taxes. Some are raising a family or helping their family make ends meet. They can drive a car. Ironically, they pay fees to get a license plate that reads ‘End Taxation Without Representation.’ I think it’s time to change that,” said Councilmember Allen. During the public hearing, more than 70 young people testified and shared their views and concerns on a wide range of issues.

Other jurisdictions, including neighboring Takoma Park, Greenbelt, and Hyattsville in Maryland, already allow residents to vote in local races at the age of 16 and have seen young voters turnout to vote at higher rates than older residents. The District would be the first jurisdiction to lower the voting age to 16 for all races.

According to US Census data, in 2016 there were 10,455 DC residents ages 16 and 17 – nearly 70 percent of whom were black, 24 percent white, and six percent other. Additionally, 13 percent identify their ethnicity as Hispanic/Latinx.

“The laws and budgets we pass have huge effects on these young people. We have laws with penalties that can dictate their future. We have no problem collecting taxes or fees from residents who are 16 and 17 – why shouldn’t we fully enfranchise them?” said Councilmember Allen.

Erik Salmi

Communications Director

Councilmember Charles Allen