Voting Age Study: Lowering the Voting Age to 16 

Date Study Completed
6/2023

Name of Submitting League
LWV of Maine

Title of Study
Voting Age Study: Lowering the Voting Age to 16

Summary of Study
The purpose of this Study is to guide the creation of a policy position on whether the minimum age for voting in municipal and state elections should remain at 18 or be lowered to 16. The need for the study was recognized in 2021 when two bills (LD 706  & LD 1051) to lower the voting age to 16 were proposed to the state  Legislature but did not pass.

LWVME became increasingly aware of the emerging movement, not just in the US but worldwide, to extend the vote to 16-year-olds. With several cities across the United States lowering their voting age to 16 – Mt Rainier MD, Berkeley CA, and Takoma Park, MD,  to name a few – this movement is likely to continue in the coming years,  and LWVME wants to be able to take a stand on the issue when it comes up again in Maine. Consequently, the LWVME Board proposed a study on lowering the voting age in Maine for statewide elections as well as allowing municipalities to lower the voting age for municipal elections. The proposal was accepted by membership at the 2021 State Convention, and a study committee was formed in March of 2022.

League or Contact Email Address
allyson@lwvme.org [Allyson Gardner]

League or Contact Phone Number
541-283-6787