Voting Age Status Report

Places that have lowered their voting age to 16

Berkeley, California – school board elections

Brattleboro, Vermont – all local elections
Greenbelt, Maryland – all local elections
Hyattsville, Maryland – all local elections
Oakland, California – school board elections
Riverdale Park, Maryland – all local elections
Takoma Park, Maryland – all local elections
(Glenarden, Maryland lowered their voting age to 16 in 2016, but raised it again to 18 just over a year later.)

Current campaigns to lower the voting age

Federal Level

Currently there is a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to lower the voting age to 16 for all elections.

State level

States that allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries

Some states allow 17-year-olds to vote in the presidential or congressional primaries or party caucuses, if turning 18 before the general election. Primaries are state elections and voter eligibility is determined by state legislation, while caucus eligibility is determined by party policy in each state. Some caucuses may allow participation to party members that are not eligible to vote and you should ask the party in your state, even if not listed here.

If you are 18 by the next election:

You cannot vote in the primary

You can vote in the Democratic Caucus

You can vote in the Democratic and Republican Caucuses

You can vote in the Primary Election

Other Countries that have a voting age under 18

Age 16

Argentina
Austria
Bosnia and Herzegovina – if employed
Belgium – European elections only
Brazil
Croatia – if employed
Cuba
Dominican Republic – if married
Ecuador
Estonia – local elections only
Germany – seven out of sixteen states have lowered the voting age to 16 for local elections only
Guernsey
Hungary – if married
Indonesia – if married
Isle of Man
Jersey
Malta
Nicaragua
Scotland – in Scotland elections only
Serbia – if employed
Slovenia – if employed
Switzerland – in the state of Glarus for regional elections only