How Would Proposition 18 Affect Who Can Vote?

Proposition 18 would allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primary elections and special elections.

Do Other States Allow 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Primaries?

As of June 2020, 18 states, along with Washington, D.C., allowed 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the time of the general election to vote in primary elections.

How was Proposition 17 Placed on the Ballot?

Proposition 17 stated as Assembly Concurrent Resolution 4 (ACA 4) during the 2019-2020 legislative session. The California State Senate voted 31 to 7 to pass ACA 4 on June 25, 2020. Senate Democrats, along with two Senate Republicans, supported ACA 4. The California State Assembly voted 56 to 13 to pass ACA 4 on June 26, 2020. Of those who supported ACA 4, 55 were Democrats and one was a Republican. Opponents included one Democrat and 12 Republicans.

Official Ballot Arguments For Proposition 18

We need youth voices to be represented at the ballot box. Allowing some 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if, and only if, they will be 18 by the time of the general election is a simple way to amplify the voices of young voters throughout California and will lead to a more inclusive election process for our state. overall.

California is behind the curve when it comes to this issue. Nearly half of states in the U.S. already allow17-year-olds to participate in primaries and caucuses.If an individual plans to participate in the general election as a first-time voter, it is only reasonable that they be afforded the opportunity to shape the. choices that appear on the general election ballot by participating in the primary. Proposition 18 links this17-year-old participation to the age of majority by requiring that the individual be 18 by the time of the. general election.

See all the arguments in favor of Proposition 18 here.

Official Ballot Arguments Against Proposition 18

17-year-old are not legally adults. Both the federal and California governments have set the age of legal responsibility at 18. In California, an individual even one day younger than 18 may not enter into a legal contract, or even use a tanning. salon. Seventeen-year-olds cannot even participate in a school field trip without a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian. California law puts extra rules and restrictions on driver licenses of l6- and 17-year-olds because of concerns about maturity and judgment. The license restrictions disappear exactly on the 18th birthday, not before. California law reflects the scientific evidence that age related brain development is connected to the ability to reason, analyze and comprehend cause-and-effect.The agreed-upon age of reason, both statewide and nationally, is 18.

17-year-olds are captive audiences in school. Voters deserve to hear all sides of an issue to make an informed choice. Most 17-year-olds are still in high school, dependent on teachers for grades and important recommendation letters vital to their future. They are a captive audience five days a week, with a strong incentive to do whatever teachers and counselors recommend.

See all the arguments against of Proposition 18 here.

Official Websites for Proposition 18

Visit the Official Website for Proposition 18: not found

Visit. the Official Website against Proposition 18: not found

Who is Funding Proposition 18?

For updated funding information, including contributions made in support and opposition to Proposition 18, the disclosure reports are available at the California Secretary of State’s website.

What is Proposition 18?

If approved, Proposition 18 will allow 17-year-olds, who will be 18 at the time of the next general election, to vote in the primary and special election. Currently, voters must be 18 years old on the date of the election to vote. ‍

Who is Supporting Proposition 18?‍

Kevin Mullin, assembly member 

Evan Low, assembly member‍

Who is Opposing Proposition 18?‍

Ruth Weiss, vice president of the Election Integrity Project of California 

Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association 

Larry Sand, retired teacher

For more information, go to ballotpedia.org. ‍

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