By Ruth Geos
In 1971, in the full fury of the Vietnam War and anti-war protests in opposition, the voting age in American elections was lowered from 21 to 18 with the ratification of the 26th Amendment. Fearing the impact of the youth vote in his 1972 reelection campaign, then-President Nixon did all he could to blunt that vote, including trying to deport John Lennon and Yoko Ono, vocal anti-war and Dump-Nixon supporters to diminish their influence and the political power of their music. History sometimes is like a movie: some remember that while he was re-elected, he also became the very first President to resign from office as the Watergate scandal engulfed his presidency.
26th Amendment:
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The times have changed, but the right endures. And to match the times, 16 is even better than 18: 16 triggers the right in California to leap ahead to pre-register to vote once you turn 18. If you are a California resident at least 16 years old, you may register now and vote for the candidates and ballot measures on the ballot of the very first election that comes up after your 18th birthday—of course as long as you meet all other voter qualifications. You can Pre-Register to Vote online through the CA Secretary of State. So, in real terms, anyone with an 18th birthday before March 3, 2020, can register now to vote in the upcoming California Primary to choose the Democratic candidate for President, and anyone with an 18th birthday before November 3, 2020, can register now to vote in the next Presidential election. And all 16-year-olds can register to vote for the next opportune moment. In 2018, only 9.83% of the total registered voters in San Francisco were in the age range of 17.5-25 years old, and only 1,692 individuals pre-registered to vote here.
Greta Thunberg, climate activist, who is challenging the world and its leaders to take immediate action to stem global warming, is now 16, and she, too, would qualify to pre-register to vote—if she were an American—and a California resident—to select the best candidate to carry these priorities to the fore. Every election offers choices in public policy and direction, and the 2020 American elections are a pivot to key approaches to climate change and every other global and local issue that needs immediate attention, and the votes of all.
New voters may have to show a form of identification or proof of residency the first time they vote. For more information, contact the San Francisco Department of Elections at 415-554-4375 or look at their resources, including working as a High School Ambassador to advocate for full youth suffrage.
sflawlibraryblog 