WEST CHESTER, PA — A student-driven push to expand youth voting rights in Pennsylvania took a major step forward as state lawmakers circulated a memo outlining legislation that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections.
The proposal, titled “Lowering the Voting Age for School Board Elections,” was circulated on January 21 by state Reps. Chris Pielli of Chester County and John Inglis III of Allegheny County. The forthcoming bill would give high school juniors and seniors a direct say in the local elections that shape school funding, curriculum, activities, and student safety.
Supporters argue that students are uniquely affected by school board decisions yet remain excluded from the democratic process governing their own education.
The effort is being advanced by The Fund for Women and Girls, which created and leads Vote16PA, a nonpartisan, student-led civic engagement initiative focused on expanding youth voice in school governance. Students involved in the program not only advocated for the idea but also helped draft and edit the legislative memo before it was submitted.
Participants said the proposal reflects years of frustration with being shut out of decisions that directly affect their daily lives. Students in the Vote16PA cohort include high school and college participants who have met with legislators, built coalitions across the state, researched voter expansion, and developed communications strategies to advance the policy.
Advocates point to examples beyond Pennsylvania. At least nine municipalities in states including New Jersey, Maryland, Vermont, and California have already lowered the voting age to 16 for certain local elections. Research cited by organizers shows that earlier voting is associated with higher rates of long-term civic participation.
Blake Emmanuel, director of advocacy and policy at The Fund for Women and Girls, said data from the United States and abroad consistently shows that voters who begin participating at a younger age are more likely to remain engaged over time.
The memo’s circulation marks the transition of Vote16PA from a classroom concept to an active legislative initiative. Student leaders emphasized that the proposal is not symbolic but intended to provide meaningful representation in elections where students are the primary stakeholders.
Organizers said the work is far from finished. Vote16PA participants plan to continue educating peers and community members, building bipartisan coalitions, and tracking the legislation as it moves through the General Assembly.
The Fund for Women and Girls said it will continue investing in civic education and youth leadership as part of its broader mission to advance equity and remove structural barriers to participation. More information about the initiative is available at https://www.thefundcc.org/vote16pa, and the legislative memo can be viewed at https://www.palegis.us/house/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=47939.
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