We, the undersigned students, parents, teachers, and community members of Colorado call on our state legislators to draft and pass a bill that will give anyone 16 years of age or older the right to vote in school board elections.

Why should we let 16 year olds vote for school board?

1. Fair Representation. School board decisions have great influence on the lives of 16- and 17-year-olds. They deserve to vote on the people who make those decisions, and research shows they are mature enough to do so.

2. Improve Civic Engagement. Research suggests that casting a first ballot at 16 or 17 will lead to a lifetime of voting and civic engagement

3. Practical Civic Education. Participating in school board elections teaches them how to research candidates, identify and debate key issues, and effectively participate in an election before they graduate from high school.

4. Positive Contributions to School Community. Youth are experts in their own educational experience and giving them the right to vote can result in better policies that will directly strengthen their school communities.

For these reasons and more, we call on our state legislators to take action this legislative session to give 16 year olds the right to vote in school board elections.

Learn more: www.studentvoicestudentvote.org

Email us: info@studentvoicestudentvote.org

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