Nathaniel is not alone. He’s part of a growing movement. From Hawaii to Massachusetts, teens are fighting for a powerful right: the right to vote.

    Many of these teens are inspired by the issues that matter to them. They care about things like climate change and school safety. If they are able to vote, they can help choose leaders who have similar values.

    But there’s another reason some young people believe they should be able to vote: taxes.

    Many teens have jobs. And anyone with a job pays taxes. The government uses taxes to pay for things like schools and roads. This money is taken out of teens’ paychecks. Shouldn’t teens be able to vote for the people who decide how that money is used?

    Nathaniel is part of a growing movement. From Hawaii to Massachusetts, teens are fighting for the right to vote.

    Many of these teens are inspired by climate change and school safety. They care about those issues. They want to help choose leaders who have similar values.

    But there’s another reason teens want to vote: taxes. Many teens have jobs. Anyone with a job pays taxes. This money is taken out of your paycheck. It pays for things like schools and roads. Government leaders decide how to spend the money. Shouldn’t teens get to vote for those leaders?

    Nathaniel is not alone. He’s part of a growing movement—from Hawaii to Massachusetts—in which teens are fighting for a powerful right: the right to vote.

    Many of these teens are inspired by things like climate change, school safety, and other issues that matter to them. If they are able to vote, then they can help choose leaders who have similar values.

    But there’s another reason some young people believe they should be able to vote: taxes.

    Many teens have jobs, and anyone with a job pays taxes. The money is taken directly out of people’s paychecks, and the government uses it to pay for things like schools and roads. Shouldn’t teens be able to vote for the people who decide how that money is used?

    Some young people say they should have a say. And they’re focusing on local elections.

    Right now, the federal voting age in the U.S. is 18. That means you need to be 18 to vote for the U.S. president and members of Congress. But cities and states have control over their own elections. They can pass laws that set their own voting age. It just can’t be higher than 18. 

    In 2013, the city of Takoma Park, Maryland, made history. It became the first place in the U.S. to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections. That means more young people could vote for the mayor, city council members, and other local officials. 

    And they did. In election after election, young people in Takoma Park have shown up. Since 2013, more 16- and 17-year-olds have voted than any other age group. This has inspired other towns in Maryland and Vermont to lower the voting age too.

    Some young people say yes. They’re focusing on local elections.

    In the U.S., the federal voting age is 18. You must be 18 to vote for the U.S. president and members of Congress. But cities and states can set their own voting age. It just can’t be higher than 18.

    In 2013, the city of Takoma Park, Maryland, made history. It lowered the voting age to 16 for local elections. It was the first place in the U.S. to do so. It let more young people vote for local officials.

    And they have. Since 2013, more 16- and 17-year-olds have voted than any other age group. Now other Maryland towns have lowered their voting age. Some Vermont towns have too.

    Some young people think they should have a say. And they’re focusing on local elections.

    Right now, the federal voting age in the U.S. is 18, which means you need to be 18 to vote for the U.S. president and members of Congress. But cities and states have control over their own elections and can pass laws that set their own voting age—it just can’t be higher than 18.

    In 2013, the city of Takoma Park, Maryland, made history when it became the first place in the U.S. to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections. That allowed more young people to vote for the mayor, city council members, and other local officials.

    And they did. In election after election since 2013, young people in Takoma Park have shown up, with more 16- and 17-year-olds voting than any other age group. This has inspired other towns in Maryland and Vermont to lower the voting age as well.

    Still, voting is about more than just showing up. You also have to understand how the government works. Many adults believe 16- and 17-year-olds aren’t ready. They worry young voters won’t educate themselves about the issues and candidates.

    DJ Yearwood disagrees. The 18-year-old has been working to lower the voting age for local elections in Missouri. He points out that many high school students study civics. Voting allows them to put what they learn to use in the real world. 

    Plus, DJ believes that voting in local elections creates good voting habits. This will help our country in the future. Voting as a teen makes people more likely to vote as adults. “It’s a great introduction [to voting],” DJ says.

    But voting is more than just showing up. You should understand how government works. Many adults think 16- and 17-year-olds aren’t ready. They say young voters won’t educate themselves. They won’t know the issues or candidates.

    DJ Yearwood disagrees. He is 18. He lives in Missouri. He’s working to lower the voting age for local elections. Many high school students study civics. DJ says voting allows them to practice civics in the real world.

    Plus, voting in local elections creates good voting habits, says DJ. This will help our country in the future. Voting as a teen makes people more likely to vote as adults.

    Still, voting is about more than just showing up. You also have to understand how the government works. Many adults believe 16- and 17-year-olds aren’t ready, and they worry that young voters won’t educate themselves about the issues and candidates.

    DJ Yearwood disagrees. The 18-year-old has been working to lower the voting age for local elections in Missouri. He points out that many high school students study civics, and voting would allow them to put what they learn to use in the real world.

    Plus, DJ believes that voting in local elections can create good voting habits, which can help our country in the future. Voting as a teen makes people more likely to vote as adults. “It’s a great introduction [to voting],” DJ explains.