17-Year-Olds Voting in Primaries. By: Lila Vanni

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1 17-Year-Olds Voting in Primaries By: Lila Vanni

2 My Mission As years have come and gone, there has continued to be a decline in millennial voters in not only Philadelphia, but all across the nation. This is because of the very limited say that young people have in their government, even when they have the ability to vote in a general election. This is why I have chosen to focus on the issue of expanding the rights of eligible 17- year-olds voting in primaries.

3 What does this mean? In 21 states and the District of Columbia, 17- year-olds that will be eligible to vote in general elections, like myself, have the ability to vote for a candidate in their state's primary or caucus to vote for their choice candidate. Pennsylvania, is not one of these states, and is limiting their youths ability to have a say in their presidential candidates that will ultimately run in the general election, and therefore, is turning most first time voters away from the polls.

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6 The Facts. Background: Pennsylvania has a closed primary, which means only voters who are registered to one of the two major parties Republican or Democrat are eligible to vote in the election. With the latter having been said, primaries are up to the discretion of these political parties, and therefore, it is only they who can help the 21.1% of persons 18 years and younger in Pennsylvania expand their voting rights.

7 What is the benefit? Why allow first time voters to get involved in voting at a younger age? It has been proven in other countries, such as Denmark, that young voters will be more inclined to vote even as they age. This is because they feel that they were able to create a positive impact in their government at a younger age, while they are still acquiring independent freedoms such as the right to drive. Increased voter turnout is a benefit for our country.

8 What needs to happen? Voting is a right that is decided on solely by state government, as long as it is in basic accordance with the federal government and is constitutional. Changing the rights to allow eligible 17-year-olds, like myself, to vote in primaries is something that can only be changed with the support of the people in the state. It only has the ability to be changed if our Senates and Representatives hear a call for and are willing to corporate with the two major political parties.

9 My Plan. My plan is to bring this issue to the attention of voters like me, who did not have a say in their primary because they are not yet eighteen, but will be come general election. Together, I would like to petition and bring this issue to our local state government, and eventually have this issue placed on the ballots of the next general election, so that the citizens of our state can let our government know they are in favor.

10 Why do I think the citizens of Pennsylvania will agree? I think the citizens of Pennsylvania will agree with the approval of eligible 17-year-olds voting in primaries because a similar question asking about the ability of allowing young people aged 16 and 17 the opportunity to pre-register to vote had a positive response in the Committee 70 survey taken during the 2016 Pennsylvania primary election.

11 Overall Allowing eligible 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections will increase the voter turnout in first time/ youth voters in Pennsylvania. By allowing people the right to vote for the candidates they want to be in the general, you are expanding the right of the view of the younger generation to be expressed.

12 Bibliography: Committee 70. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May < Source of survey used on slide 10. "Lack of Local News and Information Biggest Cause of Declining Millennial Turnout: New Knight Report." Knight Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May < press-room/press-release/lack-local-news-and-information-biggest-cause-decl/>. Source that provided inspiration for presentation. "Lower the Voting Age - Fairvote." FairVote. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May < Source that provided information for slide 6. "Population Estimates, July 1, 2015, (V2015)." Pennsylvania QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May < PST045215/42#>. Source of percentage of 18-year-old persons and younger in Pennsylvania found on slide 6. "Primary Voting at Age 17 - FairVote." FairVote. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May < Maps and general resources provided on slides 3,4, & 5