*Please sign with your school email if you're a student!*
More than a million California students consist of youth between the ages of 16-17. That is a significant portion of the community whose voices, experiences, and unique insights are not accounted for in school elections. For legislative bodies to truly represent the population, ALL parts of society must be included. Youth representation in local government is essential and crucial, and we must ensure that youth perspectives and opinions are heard in decision-making processes, especially in the ones that impact us the most.

16 and 17-year-olds have the right to be tried as adults in trial, have jobs, drive, and even pay taxes, yet their voices are not so much even considered in local school elections.  School policies and programs targeted toward youth should be made by the actual needs and preferences of the youth population. Without hearing the advisements from our youth directly, we cannot guarantee that the government is effectively addressing our needs. 

Unquestionably, students are the most impacted by school board elections, so it does not make sense that those who are being represented by a board are not allowed to vote for that respective board. According to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, any person who has completed sixth grade possesses sufficient literacy, comprehension, and intelligence to vote in any election.

If you are a youth who lives in California , NOW is the time to act. Let's make a change, and let's make it now.