For the first time since the election age was lowered to 16 for local elections in Takoma Park, these new voters had an opportunity to vote last Tuesday. And guess what? They showed up!
Turnout among 16- and 17-year-olds in Tuesday’s election for mayor and Council members was four times higher than overall turnout, according to Jessie Carpenter, Takoma Park’s City Clerk. The election was the first time in history that the franchise had been extended to residents under the age of 18. Of the 134 16- and 17-year-olds that registered to vote on Tuesday, 59 actually cast ballots, a turnout of 44 percent. For the overall voting populace of 11,300, though, turnout was significantly lower, only reaching 11 percent.
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