November 2020: Vote Yes on Prop G and Allow Young People to Have a Say in Their Future

Prop G, Vote 16 SF would amend the City Charter to allow 16 year olds the right to vote, if passed by a simple majority of voters this November.

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters endorses Yes on Prop G. 

During election time, adults are always encouraged to vote for candidates and propositions that promise a better tomorrow for themselves and for the next generation of young people. The irony is that most young people are not given the same opportunity to make decisions about what kind of world they want to live in, and that is a shame. It’s time to expand voting rights to young people who are 16- and 17-year olds so they too get to help shape their future.

In 2016, there was a local effort in San Francisco to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year olds for municipal elections. Unfortunately, it fell just shy of the 50% threshold needed to pass. Four years later, youth leaders are trying again and hope to achieve success this November. Currently, this measure enjoys broad support from the full Board of Supervisors, several state elected officials, and a number of non-profits and youth groups, and it only requires a simple majority to pass.

Previously, many voters opposed extending the right to vote to young people because they felt this demographic was not mature and well informed enough to make such important decisions, and they could influence policy decisions (such as marijuana use and firearm possession) in their favor. They also argued that expanding voting rights would not necessarily guarantee voter turnout and civic engagement as evidenced by Scotland in 2014 when voting rights were expanded to young people and participation was marginally higher.

However, SFLCV feels that young people should have a say in their future. They are just as knowledgeable about local, state, national and global issues as adults are, and even more importantly, they care deeply about climate change. According to the Washington Post:

“A solid majority of American teenagers are convinced that humans are changing Earth’s climate and believe that it will cause harm to them personally and to other members of their generation, according to the Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll (Summer 2019). Roughly 1 in 4 have participated in a walkout, attended a rally or written to a public official to express their views on global warming — a remarkable level of activism for a group that has not yet reached voting age.”  

This generation has demonstrated their power and commitment to protecting the environment by prioritizing public transit, micromobility, and walking over driving. Many 16- and 17-year olds do not even have driver's licenses and have no interest in getting them. They will likely support ballot measures that improve transit, micromobility and vision zero.

As we have seen recently with Black Lives Matter, young people have been at the forefront of demonstrating against racial, LGBTQ+ and economic injustices, and their votes may help drive and expand equity and equitable policies across their communities.

With this in mind, SFLCV is pleased to endorse Proposition G so young people can vote and help usher in a new era of climate change and social justice activism.

Regarding Prop C: Proposition C, on this November’s ballot would allow non-citizens to serve on City boards and commissions. We believe that Prop C and Prop G are complementary in that they will bring about a more inclusive government and we encourage voters to support both.