16, 17 year olds in Delaware could soon vote in school board elections thanks to new bill

DELAWARE – A new bill in Delaware is looking to drop the legal voting age to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote with one important caveat; for school board elections.

House Bill 96 would allow students in the first state to have a say in their school board elections,  a move advocates say helps build the habit of being involved in local issues.

“School board elections are a great place for young people to start developing the habit of voting because the school board affects decisions that directly impact their lives and futures it makes sense to give them the choice to select who would serve on those school boards,” said Claire Snyder of Common Cause Delaware.

Snyder tells 47 ABC that six jurisdictions in the United States have already lowered the voting age to 16 for some or all elections yielding increases in voter turnout.

But there is some opposition with groups saying the move could be a violation of the Delaware state constitution, an assertion Snyder says is not true.

In a statement to 47 ABC Common Cause Delaware said “HB 96 does not face any constitutional issues. The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.” While no state may prohibit those who are 18 or older from voting, the Constitution does not preclude allowing people younger than 18 to vote.”

47 ABC reached out to the Delaware School Board Association, who have spoken out against the bill for comment but did not receive a response.