Photo by ericschoon

D.C. Councilmembers Charles Allen (Ward 6) and David Grosso (At-Large) have a special Sweet 16 present they’d like to give District teens—their own vote.

New legislation introduced today by the two councilmembers would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in both local and federal elections, including the presidential elections.

While the 26th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits denying any citizen 18 and older from voting, it doesn’t say anything about establishing an age floor.

Laura Marks, Allen’s chief of staff, says that the general counsel for the D.C. Council “agreed with our interpretation of federal guidelines.” The general counsel reviews all bills before their introduction.

Marks notes the many rights and responsibilities already afforded to 16- and 17-year olds—driver’s licenses, employment (and taxation on their earnings), getting charged as an adult for violent crimes, and serving as an election poll worker.

“If we think they’re qualified and capable enough to administer elections, then they should be able to participate in them,” she says.

Councilmember Allen “actually had a group of young people who reached out to him and said this was something they wanted,” Marks says. “They had seen other jurisdictions moving towards lowering their voting ages. Why not engage people when they’re young and civically-minded, rather than missing the window and losing that thread of engagement and activism?”

This follows similar moves from Takoma Park, the first jurisdiction to allow people under 18 the right to vote, and Hyattsville. The difference is that the two Maryland jurisdictions opened up voting in local elections, but not federal ones.