If the measure passes, Culver City will become one of the few communities in the United States to allow people as young as 16 to vote. “Measure VY would expand the local voting age here in Culver City to 16,” Culver City High School senior Megan-Thiel told the outlet. “By really getting people involved in democracy from a young age, it will instill in them a value of participation, so they will be much more regular, well-informed voters going forward.” Opinions on the initiative vary. According to the Los Angeles Times, supporters argue that at 16, a person can drive, get a job and pay taxes. Even as teenagers, they are influenced by decisions made solely by adult voters. Meanwhile, the newspaper reports that opponents worry that the minds of 16- and 17-year-olds are malleable to the extent that they are easily swayed by swirling opinions and are not old enough to make fully informed decisions. To date, people up to the age of 16 can only vote in all local elections in Greenbelt, Maryland, Hyattsville, Maryland, Riverdale Park, Maryland, and Takoma Park, Maryland, according to the National Women’s Rights Association. Young people.
