Why: Meddling Kids Movement and National Children's Campaign are petitioning the United States House of Representatives to pass a bill lowering the federal voting age to 16. We, as students, believe that youth deserve to have an active representation in our society and a voice in our democracy. If we can independently drive a vehicle, pay taxes, and enlist in the military then we can elect leaders whose decisions already impact OUR futures. Young people are on the frontlines of every major political issue yet our government does not allow us to have a say in the things that will ultimately affect our generation.

Climate change, public education, gun reform, social security, poverty, healthcare, immigration, and so many other key political issues have a direct impact on teenagers today yet we don’t get to decide who makes the decisions on them. We demand that our elected officials create an environment that encourages youth to get involved in politics through allowing us the constitutional right to vote that our adult peers have been promised. 

If you agree that young people deserve voting rights in America, sign this petition and share it with everyone you know using the hashtag #Suffrage16.

Background: In March of 2019, Representative Ayanna Pressley created a bill that would lower the federal voting age to 16. It got 126 out of 435 congressional votes. We are petitioning the United States government to lend their full support to this idea and for Speaker Pelosi to actually fight for it. We also want this to be a movement that extends through the 2020 presidential campaign, so we can ensure that our future leaders will take our rights as youth, seriously. This is about acknowledging the fact that: young people are here and we deserve a voice.

To learn more, go to meddlingkidsmovement.com/s16