2 FEBRUARY 11, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Meng reintroduces legislation to lower voting age to 16
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Congresswoman Grace Meng is
reintroducing legislation in
the House of Representatives to
lower the voting age in America to 16.
Since 16- and 17-year-olds are legally
permitted to work, drive, and pay
federal income taxes, Meng says they
should also be able to have their voices
heard at the ballot box.
“Our young people, including 16-
and 17-year-olds, continue to fight
and advocate for so many issues that
they are passionate about from gun
safety to the climate crisis,” Meng
said. “They have been tremendously
engaged on policies aff ecting their
lives and their futures. Their activism,
determination, and efforts to
demand change are inspirational
and have truly impacted our nation.
It’s time to give them a voice in our
democracy by permitting them to be
heard at the ballot box. “I believe that
it is right and fair to also allow them to
vote. Let’s let them be heard and make
their voices count. Let’s give them a
say in choosing who they want their
government representatives to be. I’m
proud to stand with our young people
in introducing this legislation, and I
urge my colleagues in the House to
support it.”
In 2018, Meng introduced the
measure (H.J. Res. 138) to replace the
26th amendment to the United States
Constitution with a new amendment
that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds
to vote. The last time the voting age
was changed was when it was lowered
from 21 to 18 in 1971.
Meng had noted that cities in 13
states and the District of Columbia
have the legal ability to lower the voting
age for local elections through
charter amendments, and several
have already done so. In Takoma Park,
MD – the fi rst city in America to lower
the voting age for local elections to
16 – and in Hyattsville, MD, 16- and
17-year-olds are voting at rates that
nearly quadruple those of older voters.
Internationally, at least 20 countries
allow citizens under the age of 18 to
vote.
Neil Bhateja, board member at the
National Youth Rights Association,
referenced the lower voting age in
Scotland, Brazil, Austria and Argentina,
where 16-year-olds have shown
that they’re ready to vote and deserve
to shape their own futures, he said.
“The United States should continue
its democratic tradition of extending
voting rights,” Bhateja said. “The
National Youth Rights Association
strongly supports Representative
Meng’s constitutional amendment to
lower the voting age to 16.”
Meng is receiving support from
several national organizations that
advocate for stronger voting rights.
Brianna Cea, CEO of Generation
Vote, said lowering the voting age is
an investment in the leaders of tomorrow
and that they’re proud to endorse
Meng’s amendment.
“Empowering the next generation
of voters makes our communities
stronger, strengthens civic education
in our schools, and recognizes the
contributions of young people to improving
our democracy. In the wake
of unprecedented youth voter turnout
in 2020 and in the lead-up to the 50th
anniversary of the 26th amendment,
we urge Congress to support this
historic bill,” Cea said.
Samantha Gladu, executive director
of the Next Up Action Fund, said
support is building nationwide for
modernizing the voting age since
young people are showing how important
it is.
“The time is now to engage young
people as lifelong voters and to recognize
all they bring to our democracy.
Young people are not our future: they
are our present,” Gladu said.
An empty voting booth at P.S. 219 in Kew Gardens Hills on Tuesday,
Feb. 2. File photo by Gabriele Holtermann
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