Culver City ballot measure would lower local voting age to 16

Culver City voters will decide on Nov. 3 whether to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in city and school district elections. If approved, Culver City would become the fourth California municipality and the 16th nationwide to permit under-18 voting in at least some local elections. A similar measure failed in 2022 by a margin of 50.05% to 49.95%, and implementation would depend on funding and logistical systems.

Culver City's measure would cover city and school district elections. A similar 2022 proposal failed by just 0.10 percentage points: 50.05% against, 49.95% for. If approved, it would be California's fourth municipality and the nation's 16th allowing under-18 voting in some local races. Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, Newark, ten Maryland towns, and Brattleboro already permit it in specified contests.

The 26th Amendment lowered the U.S. voting age from 21 to 18, but it does not block localities from permitting younger residents to vote locally. Many states also let 17-year-olds vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the general election, and 49 states with registration permit under-18 pre-registration.