The town of Brattleboro, Vermont, has decided to lower the voting age for local elections to 16, empowering 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in municipal governance. This decision enables these young residents to vote in upcoming local elections, reflecting a commitment to involving youth in the political process. This legislative change required overcoming significant hurdles, including the opposition from Republican Governor Phil Scott, which was ultimately bypassed by a Democratic-controlled Legislature.

The initiative marks Brattleboro as a pioneering community in the United States, joining a handful of places where the voting age has been reduced for local elections. The move is seen as a step towards engaging younger citizens in democracy early on, providing them with the opportunity to shape the policies and decisions that affect their lives directly. It aligns with similar efforts in various parts of the country, where lowering the voting age has been proposed or implemented at the municipal level to foster a more engaged and informed electorate for the future.

The Role of Youth in Local Governance

Vermont Town Enables 16 and 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Local Elections
Brattleboro is a town located just above the Massachusetts border

This legislative success in Brattleboro not only allows teenagers to vote but also to run for certain positions within the town’s primary governing body and to be chosen as representatives at the annual town meeting. However, the new law stops short of granting them the right to serve on the local school board, an aspect that was part of the original measure supported by town residents in 2019. This nuanced approach reflects a desire to integrate young people into most aspects of local governance while still maintaining certain limitations.

The effort to lower the voting age was driven by local youth and their advocates, who argued that teenagers possess the awareness and maturity to make informed decisions about their community. The campaign, which began years before the legislative victory, was marked by enthusiastic participation from teens like Silas Brubaker and organized groups such as Brattleboro Common Sense. Their involvement underscores a broader movement towards recognizing the capabilities of young people to contribute meaningfully to civic life, setting a precedent for future generations to follow in their footsteps.