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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

San Francisco Voters Say No|to Lower Voting Age

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — San Francisco voters rejected a measure Tuesday that would have given 16- and 17-year-olds the right to participate in elections for local candidates and ballot issues.

Unofficial results show that Proposition F lost by almost six percentage points. If it had passed, the city's charter would have been amended to allow for the new voters.

In persuading the Board of Supervisors to put the issue on the ballot, the San Francisco Youth Commission's Joshua Cardenas wrote: "Upon turning 16, young people can drive, work without limitations on hours, pay taxes, take classes on government in school, are subject to adult criminal charges, and yet are denied the right to vote."

Outgoing Supervisor John Avalos championed Proposition F, saying he was convinced that younger voting would lead to greater civic engagement in adulthood.

Proposition F was on a long ballot that included state and federal contests, as well as 24 other local measures — many of which attracted more attention than F — including proposals to tax sugary sodas, address a housing shortage and beef up police oversight.

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