Major progress for Vote 16 with the League of Women Voters
To advance Vote 16 policy in America, advocates need to build support in our nation's top democracy reform organizations. A new study from the League of Women Voters of Maine is a big step forward.
Working with the League of Women Voters is a huge Vote 16 movement priority.
Last month, as Common Cause kicked off its Vote 16 Week of Advocacy, we wrote about the critical importance of national democracy reform networks to the Vote 16 movement in the United States. In the US political system, advancing a reform like Vote 16 requires a painstaking community by community and state by state approach. Engaging and educating democracy reform organizations that have state and local chapters about Vote 16 is a key step towards lowering the voting age in the Untied States.
The League of Women Voters is one of the most important and influential civic organizations in the United States. Founded after the passage of the 19th amendment that allowed women to vote, for over 100 years LWV has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen American democracy. Today, there are more than 750 league chapters in all 50 states and DC.
In order for LWV chapters to support Vote 16, members need to study it and come to a consensus position.
When a league chapter wants to take a position on a public policy proposal, the first step is to establish a “study committee” to study the policy carefully. That committee will spend up to a year gathering information, writing policy briefs for members, compiling published research, and hosting educational events to discuss the policy within the league community. At the end of the study process, the “study committee” releases a report that is used as the basis for “consensus” meetings with all the LWV entities covered by the policy. At those meetings, discussions are had about key points within the policy. Through these discussions members aim to reach consensus. If the policy receives consensus, the LWV chapter considering the policy will adopt it as an official policy position of the League and begin lobbying for it through that chapter’s advocacy efforts.
The League of Women Voters of Maine has released an incredible study on Vote 16 policy.
The League of Women Voters of Maine began a consensus process in March 2022 after two Vote 16 bills were considered in the Maine legislature in 2021. Their final report was released in April 2023. The process laid out in the report can be a roadmap for any Vote 16 advocate looking to learn more about how to work with their local or state LWV chapter. It also is a great example of how proposing Vote 16 legislation in state and municipal legislatures can advance Vote 16 advocacy even when the bills don’t pass.
These bills and their failure to pass sparked a youth-led campaign and conversations across the state. LWVME became increasingly aware of the emerging movement, not just in the US but worldwide, to extend the vote to 16-year-olds. With several cities across the United States lowering their voting age to 16 – Mt Rainier, MD, Berkeley CA, and Takoma Park, MD, to name a few – this movement is likely to continue in the coming years, and LWVME wants to be able to take a stand on the issue when it comes up again in Maine.
Consequently, the LWVME Board proposed a study on lowering the voting age in Maine for statewide elections as well as allowing municipalities to lower the voting age for municipal elections. The proposal was accepted by membership at the 2021 State Convention, and a study committee was formed in March of 2022. The study committee began with a review of LWVUS position statements and those of other state Leagues in search of a position that could be adopted in Maine using the League concurrence process instead of conducting a full consensus study. The committee determined that there was no existing League study or position on the topic of voting at 16 that LWVME could adopt. Consequently, the LWVME Board and study committee members decided to conduct a full consensus study.
The study that the LWVME Voting Age Study Committee put together is an incredibly thorough document that represents one of the most comprehensive overviews currently available about what the research tells us about lowering the voting age to 16. In keeping with LWV procedure, they made significant efforts to engage with both supporters and opponents of Vote 16 and they reflect those views in the report along with academic research.
Here are some of their top conclusions:
General competency to vote: Multiple, solid research findings across varied disciplines have refuted the concern that the 16- and 17-year-old is not competent enough to cast a vote in their best interest.
Political cognition: Multiple international studies conducted on 16- and 17-year-old voters found that they are as likely to cast a “quality” ballot, one that aligns with their ideology or political position, as older voters. Furthermore, researchers warn against rigid expectations about political cognition for youth given that other age groups are not required to demonstrate competence to vote.
Voter turnout: Both international and national research suggest that 16- and 17-year-old voters are highly motivated, with turnout rates generally comparable to or better than those of slightly older (18- to 29-year-old) voters. When provided support and a strong civics education, 16- and 17-year-old youth do turn out to vote, and as a result, continue to vote in subsequent elections at rates higher than those who first voted at an older age.
What happens next in Maine?
Throughout April and May, local league chapters throughout the state of Maine have been hosting meetings to discuss the LWVME Voting Age Study! So far consensus meetings have been held for members in the Augusta, Portland, Midcoast, Downeast, Bangor, and Highlands areas in Maine. Once all LWVME members have had a chance to participate in a consensus meeting the study committee will report to the board who will approve a final position.
The Upshot? The LWVME Voting Age Study is a HUGE asset for Vote 16 advocates all across the USA!
Even if you don’t live in Maine, the work of the LWVME Voting Age Study Committee is a huge asset. The League of Women Voters is an extraordinarily influential democracy reform organization with the ability to move policy at the local, state, and federal levels. When other state Leagues - and one day perhaps the national LWV - want to consider lowering the voting age, they can now start with the LWVME Voting Age Study rather than starting from scratch. This means it is now dramatically easier for Vote 16 advocates across the country to quickly mobilize the LWV chapter in their community to support a local Vote 16 campaign. If you are interested in learning more about how to connect with your local League or use the LWVME Voting Age Study in your work, please reply to this email to reach out!
Sam Novey is a co-founder of the Vote 16 Research Network and a faculty specialist at the University of Maryland Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement.