Most high school students in Missouri take civics courses a few years before they can fully participate in elections. The student-led campaign Vote16 MO aims to change that by lowering the age of voting to 16 for local and school board elections.
鈥淲e have a big stake in what there is to say, but I just don't think we necessarily have that voice yet,鈥� said Lexi Kreisler, a high school student in St. Louis. 鈥淚 really believe in, 鈥楴o taxation without representation.鈥欌��
Civics teacher Jeff Chazen said he welcomes the opportunity for his students to be involved in the political process earlier in their life.
鈥淚f this initiative were to pass, having students be able to vote right away, as opposed to me having to say, 鈥楬ey, in a year or two, this is something that you can look forward to doing鈥� 鈥� would make what I'm doing more relevant to their everyday lives and make what we're learning more meaningful,鈥� Chazen said.
DJ Yearwood, a high school student in Kansas City, Missouri, is Vote16MO鈥檚 campaign director. He said civics classes in Missouri discourage future voters by teaching them about government, then asking them to hold onto that information 鈥� sometimes up to three years 鈥� before being able to vote.
"Lowering the voting age in such a small but impactful manner would completely reshape the way that Missouri does civics education," he said.
The 18-to-24-year-old voting bloc has . Allowing young students to vote in local elections may increase the likelihood they vote again, Chazen said.
鈥淚 like the element that we're just going to do this with the local level, because that's where our students are most tapped in,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it's a great introduction to the process.鈥�
Learn more about why Lexi Kreisler and DJ Yearwood want to lower the voting age and why civics teacher Jeff Chazen supports their efforts by listening to the full St. Louis on the Air conversation on , , , , or by clicking the play button below.
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