US EditionOregon Students, Local Leaders Back Lowering Voting Age for some School Board Elections
- Oregon students and local leaders advocated for House Bill 3012, which aims to lower the voting age to 16 for participation in nonpartisan school board elections beginning in the year 2029.
- The bill arose from youth advocates lobbying lawmakers and builds on Oregon’s automatic registration of 16- and 17-year-olds at driver's license issuance.
- Opponents, citing concerns about teen maturity and influence, submitted 150 letters opposing the bill, which has had a House Rules Committee hearing but no work session yet.
- Supporters like Rep. Willy Chotzen called the bill a powerful civic education tool, while teens such as Nilani Maheswaran emphasized their need for a “seat at the table.”
- If passed by both chambers and signed by the governor, the bill would expand youth participation in democracy, reflecting a broader trend of teen voting rights in some US local elections.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Oregon Bill To Allow Youth To Vote In School Board Elections | The Ashland Chronicle-Oregon
Oregon bill would allow youth to vote in school board elections House Bill 3012 would let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in school board elections by 2029 BY: MIA MALDONADO – MAY 19, 2025 Nilani Maheswaran, a Beaverton high school student, advocates for House Bill 3012 in front of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on May 19, 2025. (Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle) Some Oregon students are pushing lawmakers to pass a bill to allow them t…
Oregon students push lawmakers to let them vote in school board elections at 16
Oregon students are backing a bill that would let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in school board elections beginning in 2029. Supporters say it empowers students to shape education policy, while critics argue teens lack the maturity to vote.
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