Hello, I am a high school student passionate about politics and our local community. In my government class, I have advocated for the right of 16-17 year olds to vote in school board and local elections. It is a topic of great significance to me and many others I have spoken with, and I believe it is time for our voices to be truly heard.

Our local community decisions directly affect young people. From decisions around education funding to community initiatives, these are matters that impact our daily lives and futures. Despite this, our voices are not afforded the same weight as others in our communities. Our perspective is relegated to the sidelines, and this needs to change. 

There is precedent for this -- places like Takoma Park and Hyattsville in Maryland have lowered the voting age for municipal elections to 16 (Source: National Youth Rights Association). Moreover, according to Civics Education research, individuals who begin voting at a younger age are often more likely to develop habitual voting patterns, impacting participation in democracy long term (Source: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement, Tufts University).

It's high time that young voices are recognized. The 16-17 year old members of our community deserve to have a say in the decisions that shape our lives and futures. We need to acknowledge the weight of their contributions and count their votes in local elections. Please sign this petition, as we aim for a more inclusive and representative democracy.