I, currently 16 years old, am directly affected by political decisions yet I find myself unable to participate in the democratic process. Like many in my age group, we feel unrepresented in issues that directly affect us, such as wages. The legal working age in many places is 16, and we contribute to society by filling many vital jobs, paying taxes, yet are unable to have our voices heard politically. According to a study conducted by the American National Election Studies, 16-year-olds possess a comparable level of political maturity as 21-year-olds in terms of voter turnout, suggesting the maturity and readiness to engage in democratic processes (American National Election Studies, 2018). The time is ripe to reflect this maturity in our electoral laws and to give proper enfranchisement to thousands of young people. We're asking to lower the voting age immediately. Let our shared democratic ideals ring true by giving youth a say in their own future. Please, sign this petition to effect a change that affects us all.