Title
a. Consider a recommendation by the Legislative Committee to support ACA 4 (Mullin) Elections: voting age.; and ACA 8 (Low) Elections: voter qualifications.
b. Receive a report on research related to Board Referral 2018.25 to place a ballot measure on the November 2020 General Election to Expand Suffrage to Citizens of 16 & 17 Years of Age in Local Elections in Monterey County.
c. Support the Monterey County Elections Department in expanding outreach and civic engagement opportunities to the youth of Monterey County.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Consider a recommendation by the Legislative Committee to support ACA 4 (Mullin) Elections: voting age.; and ACA 8 (Low) Elections: voter qualifications.
b. Receive a report on research related to Board Referral 2018.25 to place a ballot measure on the November 2020 General Election to Expand Suffrage to Citizens of 16 & 17 Years of Age in Local Elections in Monterey County.
c. Support the Monterey County Elections Department in expanding outreach and civic engagement opportunities to the youth of Monterey County.
SUMMARY:
In 1971, 18-year-olds across the United States won the right to vote through the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Further, the California Constitution, Article II Voting, Initiative and Referendum, and Recall, Section 1-Section 20, states: A United States citizen 18 years of age and resident in this State may vote. (Sec. 2 renumbered from Sec. 1 on June 8, 1976, by Prop. 14. Res.Ch. 5, 1976.)
The 1970 Supreme Court decision in Oregon v. Mitchell held the U.S. Congress had the power to fix the voting age in national elections, but not in state and local elections. But in a 1971 case, Jolicoeur v. Mihaly, the court held that every effort should be made to keep the voting process uniform for all voters equally, otherwise, there is potential disenfranchisement when voters are confused by varying laws that make voting in different states or...
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