Del. Rasoul files bill, would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections

ROANOKE, Va. (WSET) — A Roanoke delegate plans to introduce a bill at the 2023 legislative session in Richmond that would expand the voter pool when it comes to local elections across the Commonwealth.

Del. Sam Rasoul has submitted HJ 459. He says HJ 459 will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections.

"In this past election young voters made it clear that they want to have a stronger voice in our democracy," said Rasoul. "Other states have allowed 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections, what better way to increase participation than empowering them to vote at an earlier age."

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Rasoul says HJ 459 will address the need for young people to have their voices heard politically:

• In the 2022 midterm elections, roughly 27% of Gen Z voters turned out to cast their ballot - the second highest turnout for those 18-29 in a midterm in US election history.
• 16 and 17-year-olds are able to work and contribute to our society but are not able to vote on decisions that impact their doing so.
• Young people are disproportionately impacted by major political issues such as the climate crisis, regional planning, gun violence, and the education system.

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Some are concerned that 16-year-olds are not ready. Senator Mark Peake is in favor of motivating young people to be engaged in politics but thinks this bill is not the solution. He said he'd oppose the bill and would rather see parents and schools facilitate the conversation.

"It's an obligation they have to keep their children informed and to give them that curiosity to pay attention and listen to what people who are running for office say to see if they agree with it, to research some of the things that they talk about," said Peake.

Political expert Dr. David Richards said he can see both sides of the argument.

Richards is the chair of the University of Lynchburg's political science department.

For cons, he mentioned that a 16-year-old's brain is still developing and political decisions can have serious impacts. On the other hand, 16-year-olds can legally work, pay taxes, and even be tried as an adult in court.

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To counter critics, Rasoul said, "The reality is that this is their future on the line, so why not entrust them and empower them. That might condition them to think longer and deeper about some of these critical decisions."

Parts of Maryland and California already allow 16-year-olds to vote in local and school board elections. 19 states and Washington D.C. allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections, so long as they will turn 18 by election day.

Other countries have adopted this practice, too. A study in the National Library of Medicine found that in Austria, 16 and 17-year-old voters were just as engaged and interested in voting as older voters. A study published by the Institute of Social Research, though, found that in Norway, these voters were less mature than other voters.

Del. Rasoul carried this Constitutional Amendment previously in 2021.

He said HJ 459 will be heard following the convening of the 2023 legislative session.