Youth Involvement in Elections After Vote16 Losses

Youth cannot currently vote, however, advocates have been fighting to lower the voting age to 16.

In 2015, the Vote16 initiative in San Francisco began and proposed to grant youth the right to begin voting in local elections at 16 years old. Vote16 advocates argued that lowering the voting age would increase voter turnout and instill the habit of voting earlier in their lives. Advocates also argued that many youth have jobs and pay taxes, so therefore, they should be able to vote like any other tax paying citizen.

In the 2016 elections, Vote16 lost by only 3%. Despite this loss, the movement continued, and Vote16 was placed on the 2020 ballot. However, the prop still lost by a margin of less than 1%.

Arianna Nassiri, Communications Manager for Vote16 USA and former Youth Commissioner, stated, that “any tax paying citizen who is directly impacted by an election should be represented in the body.”

If either of the props had passed, San Francisco would have been the first major American city in the world where 16-year-olds would be able to vote. Smaller suburbs like Takoma Park in Maryland — a suburb of Washington D.C. — have already lowered the voting age to 16.

Although youth have not yet gained the right to vote in San Francisco, there are still many ways that they have mobilized to become involved in local politics. Pollworking and interning on campaigns or in City Hall are a few opportunities that have recently become available to youth to include them in democracy.

Santi Cobarrubias ’24 described a few of these opportunities. “You can be a poll worker, you can host a polling place. You can go door to door in a swing state or a swing district and campaign for a candidate that’s really effective… You can even just repost something on Instagram and kind of spread this information out,” said Cobarrubias.

Among thousands of voters who rushed to the polls for the November 8th midterm elections, many Lick-Wilmerding High School students participated in San Francisco’s high school pollworking program.

Among thousands of voters who rushed to the polls for the November 8th midterm elections, many Lick-Wilmerding High School students participated in San Francisco’s high school pollworking program.

High school aged poll workers help facilitate polling stations, interact with voters, and ensure that the voting process runs smoothly across the city. To become a poll worker, students need to submit an initial application, then undergo online training which prepares them for almost any possible situation they may encounter on Election Day. Situations range from an overdrafted ballot to electioneering.

According to the Department of Elections website, in the recent 2022 midterm elections, 501 polling places were open for in-person voting operated by nearly 2,000 volunteers including approximately 500 high school students.

Among many others in the LWHS community, Sora Fitzpatrick ’24 volunteered at a polling place, and assisted voters as they dropped off their mail-in ballots and voted at booths. “People are voting on things that are going to affect our future and I think a lot of older people have less of an understanding than the youth does on these issues,” Fitzpatrick said.

Ceci Rodriguez ’23 also volunteered as a poll worker and voiced similar regards about youth voices in politics. “A democracy upholds the opinions of the people, and I think youth should be a part of decision-making. If we’re going to be a part of a democratic society, our voices should be heard and valued,” she said.

For those interested in joining the San Francisco government, City Hall also has ample opportunities through youth advisory boards, seats and internships within a range of departments.

Rodriguez interned in District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar’s office and helped with research to consider maintaining the highway closure or reopen it to cars. Although Rodriguez’s internship mainly consisted of compiling research, she was able to make an impact on San Francisco citizens and the efficiency of their daily lives without the right to vote.

Mayen Thorsen ’25 became exposed to local politics after spending countless months interning on San Mateo Congressman Kevin Mullin’s 2022 campaign. She phone banked and attended Mullin’s events. Thorsen encourages other youth to actively participate in local politics. “It’s really as simple as sending an email or just talking to someone about it and getting it out there,” she said.

Examples of youth advisory councils include the District 7 Youth Council, which former District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee also created to give a voice to District 7 youth on issues affecting their neighborhood.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency also created the Youth Advisory Board (YTAB) in 2021 to make public transit more accessible to youth riders. Thjis Simonian ’24, a member of the YTAB described the importance of the council. “YTAB provides a voice for youth in the agency and works to make the experience of youth on Muni equitable and safe, among other goals,” he said.

The San Francisco Youth Commission is another advisory council that allows youth to get involved in local politics. It was formed in 1995 when voters amended the city charter through Proposition F. The commission has 17 members that advise the mayor and the Board of Supervisors on issues related to youth. 11 commissioners are appointed by their district supervisors and 6 are appointed by the mayor. Since its inception, the commission has given youth a voice in local politics.

Many hope that in the coming years, Vote16’s mission will be realized, and the youth vote will be secured. However, youth remain passionate about their right to participate in democracy and have found other ways to remain involved in politics.

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Emily Nguyen

Emily Nguyen is a junior at LWHS and a second year writer for the Paper Tiger. Outside of school, she serves on the SF Youth Commission and loves biking and reading.

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