Sacramento, California Local News
Teenagers under 18 can cast a ballot in Oakland and Berkeley
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Anyone aged 16 and 17 who live in either Oakland or Berkeley can vote in this year’s election. They can only vote for their school board, but many see this as an important step for letting students in the Oakland Unified School District or the Berkeley Unified School District have a say in who governs them. “We feel kind of empowered now,” said Joel Coronado, a student at Latitude High School. “It’s not only ‘hey let parents take care of it all and voice your opinions and you can’t really do anything about it,’ now you can.”This stems from two city measures passed years ago. The Alameda County Registrar has now implemented the measures making teenagers eligible to vote this November. This means they have to register like everyone else. “The school board really matters for us,” said Eva Levenson. “The different candidates can change what our everyday life looks like here.”Both Levenson and Coronado volunteered to teach other students how to register. The were able to get at least 160 students between the two of them. The Alameda County registrar shows thousands more have also registered to vote. A key step many say will keep teenagers enthusiastic about voting for the rest of their lives. The kids are all talking about ‘hey did you get your ballot? Hey, who are you voting for? Why did you pick that person?'” said Kimi Kean, the CEO of Families in Action for a Quality Education. “It’s creating excitement. It is changing the culture.”Although they can’t vote for president, or Congress or even city council, they are excited for the day they can. They have a message for anyone over 18 who has yet to vote. “Your voices do matter,” Coronado said.
Anyone aged 16 and 17 who live in either Oakland or Berkeley can vote in this year’s election. They can only vote for their school board, but many see this as an important step for letting students in the Oakland Unified School District or the Berkeley Unified School District have a say in who governs them.
“We feel kind of empowered now,” said Joel Coronado, a student at Latitude High School. “It’s not only ‘hey let parents take care of it all and voice your opinions and you can’t really do anything about it,’ now you can.”
This stems from two city measures passed years ago. The Alameda County Registrar has now implemented the measures making teenagers eligible to vote this November. This means they have to register like everyone else.
“The school board really matters for us,” said Eva Levenson. “The different candidates can change what our everyday life looks like here.”
Both Levenson and Coronado volunteered to teach other students how to register. The were able to get at least 160 students between the two of them. The Alameda County registrar shows thousands more have also registered to vote. A key step many say will keep teenagers enthusiastic about voting for the rest of their lives.
The kids are all talking about ‘hey did you get your ballot? Hey, who are you voting for? Why did you pick that person?'” said Kimi Kean, the CEO of Families in Action for a Quality Education. “It’s creating excitement. It is changing the culture.”
Although they can’t vote for president, or Congress or even city council, they are excited for the day they can. They have a message for anyone over 18 who has yet to vote.
“Your voices do matter,” Coronado said.
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