Why Local Elections Matter More Than Ever
Empowering the Next Generation Through the Ballot Box
- Young people are increasingly engaged with local politics and issues that directly affect their communities, often feeling disconnected from national politics.
- Lowering the voting age for local elections has demonstrably increased youth voter turnout and overall civic engagement.
- Local elections offer a crucial avenue for young people to influence decisions on issues like housing, transit, and education, fostering a stronger connection to democracy.
- Efforts to remove barriers to youth voting, including advocating for a lower voting age, are vital for a more representative and engaged electorate.
Igniting a deeper passion for civic engagement in the next generation.
For generations, young people have been at the vanguard of political and social change, their energy and vision often driving progress. Yet, a striking paradox persists: many of these future leaders are unable to cast a ballot in the very elections that shape their lives. While federal politics often dominate headlines, a quiet but powerful shift is underway, as young people increasingly turn their attention to local issues and the significant impact of local elections. This growing engagement, coupled with pioneering initiatives to lower the voting age, presents a transformative opportunity to strengthen our democracy and ensure every voice is heard.
Local Democracy Project has identified a significant body of research underscores this evolving landscape. While only 16% of 18- to 29-year-olds believe democracy is working well for young people at the national level (tufts.edu), a different story unfolds closer to home. Young people are increasingly feeling connected to local issues such as housing, transit, and community health (https://journalistsresource.org). This is not a passive interest; it's an active desire to influence the decisions that directly impact their daily lives. In fact, Tufts CIRCLE research reveals that state and local governments are among the most trusted institutions by young people, with 60% trusting local government and 52% trusting state government. For comparison, only 37% reported trusting Congress (tufts.edu). This trust translates into action: young people who voted were 22% more likely to trust local government than those who did not.
From Local to National: The Reverse Coattails Effect
The concept of a "reverse coattails" effect, as identified by Run For Something's Cofounder, vividly illustrates this shift. Young voters are not simply turning out for up-ballot races and then trickling down to local elections. Instead, they are actively engaging with and being encouraged by local politics, which then motivates their participation in broader elections. Data supports this: down-ballot candidates contributed a .4% – 2.3% bump in top-of-the-ticket vote share between 2016 and 2020. A poll by Run For Something even found that 61% of young Democrats in battleground states are more likely to turn out if there’s a young, progressive candidate running down-ballot. This demonstrates a clear desire among young people to see themselves and their concerns reflected in their elected officials, especially at the local level.
Lowering the Voting Age, Raising Turnout
One of the most promising avenues for harnessing this growing engagement is lowering the voting age for local elections. In 2024, the Newark City Council bravely dropped the minimum voting age for school board elections to 16 (AP). This move follows in the footsteps of five cities in Maryland (Takoma Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Riverdale Park, and Mount Rainier) and two in California (Berkeley and Oakland) that already allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections or school board contests (civic.umd.edu). In addition, House Bill 3012 in Portland, Oregon, aims to give 16 and 17-year-olds the opportunity to vote in school district elections. These pioneering efforts are not just symbolic; they are yielding tangible results.
Takoma Park, Maryland, serves as a compelling case study. After enfranchising 16 and 17-year-olds in 2013, data from the City Clerk shows a dramatic increase in youth voter turnout. In 2013, 44% of young voters participated in local elections, compared to just 10% of all voters. By 2020, this had surged to an impressive 69% turnout among young voters, exceeding the 54% turnout of all other voters (civic.umd.edu). This success demonstrates that when given the opportunity, young people actively engage. Moreover, the inclusion of student voters helped increase Takoma Park’s overall voter turnout, which in the 20 years prior had only passed 20% once. This further involved immigrant families where English wasn’t the primary language, as engaged students were able to explain the process to their families.
The arguments against lowering the voting age, such as concerns about susceptibility to peer pressure or the monetary cost of inclusion, are often outweighed by the overwhelming evidence of increased engagement and the undeniable benefits of a more representative democracy. As seen in Oakland, California, where approximately 600 of 1,500 registered students voted in November 2024, the potential impact of youth votes is significant. Even with a short registration window and challenges in ballot submission, student votes in Oakland's District 5 led to the closest race, with an 885-vote difference, highlighting how student voices can shift election outcomes.
Youth voting has been on an upward trend nationally, reaching a historic high in 2020 after a low in 2000 (http://mapresearch.org). This increase can be attributed, in part, to decreasing barriers to youth voting, which have historically included lack of voting experience, frequent moves making registration difficult, fewer resources, and even targeted efforts to disenfranchise young voters (http://mapresearch.org). Addressing these barriers, and championing the right for younger citizens to vote in local elections, is crucial.
The motivations of young voters are clear. Issues like racism, environmental concerns, and healthcare access are top motivators for those aged 18-29 (tufts.edu). By participating in their communities, young people are most likely to become active voters (NAACP). This is precisely why Local Democracy Project supports the movement to lower the voting age, particularly for school board elections. Decisions about redistricting, budgets, and staffing directly impact students, yet too often, they are excluded from these critical conversations.
The evidence is clear: empowering young people to vote in local elections is not just a progressive ideal, it’s a pragmatic strategy for a more vibrant, engaged, and representative democracy. By recognizing their growing interest in local issues and removing unnecessary barriers to participation, we can unlock the immense potential of the next generation to shape their communities and, by extension, the future of our nation. It is time to trust young people with their voices and their votes.
Research by: Kiran Rhodes, and Amina Mokhtarzada
