THE FUTURE IS NOW: HOW MEASURE QQ GIVES HIGH SCHOOLERS A VOICE... AND A VOTE
Attention all high school students in Oakland! Get ready to exercise your right to vote because Measure QQ is coming to town! That's right, the voting age for school board elections is being lowered to 16, and it's not just any ordinary civics lesson, it's a real-life one!
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Wait, I can barely decide what to wear to school, how am I supposed to decide who should be on the school board?" Well, fear not my young friends, because you are not alone. Many adults also struggle with this decision. But hey, at least you don't have to worry about paying taxes yet, so that's a plus!
Measure QQ was approved by 67% of Oakland voters in the 2020 general election. It was supported by a coalition of youth organizations who argued that young people should have a voice in the laws that affect their lives. And let's be real, who knows more about what's going on in schools than the students themselves?
But not everyone was on board with this idea. Some people argued that 16-year-olds are not mature enough to participate in elections, or that they would be influenced by their parents or teachers. Well, newsflash, adults can also be influenced by their families and friends. And let's be honest, some of them are not exactly the most mature people either.
The implementation of Measure QQ has been delayed due to technical and legal challenges. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters has not made the necessary changes to its voter databases and ballots to accommodate the younger voters. But don't worry, we'll get there eventually. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was a fair and just electoral system.
If Measure QQ is implemented by 2024, 16- and 17-year-olds in Oakland will be able to vote in the school board races for Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. That means you will have a say in who represents your district and makes decisions about your education. So start doing your research now and get ready to cast your vote!
To make things even more exciting, the youth vote coalition is planning to host a candidate forum at Fremont High School in October for the special election taking place in November to fill the vacant school board seat in District 5. And the school district's student government association, All City Council, will endorse a candidate through a mock youth vote. So not only will you get to vote for real in a few years, but you can also practice your voting skills now.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "But what if I make the wrong choice?" Well, my young friend, that's the beauty of democracy. Sometimes we make mistakes, but we learn from them and we keep moving forward. And if all else fails, just remember to vote for the candidate with the funniest name. Works every time.
In all seriousness though, lowering the voting age is a step towards creating a more inclusive and democratic society. It gives young people a voice and empowers them to shape their own future. So let's embrace this opportunity and show the world that we are ready to be active and engaged citizens.
In conclusion, Measure QQ is not just a civics lesson, it's a chance for young people to make a real difference in their community. So let's get out there and show everyone what we're made of! And remember, when in doubt, always vote for the candidate with the funniest name.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and register to vote! And who knows, maybe one day you'll be running for office yourself. Just don't forget about us little people when you're in charge.
Oakland youth could vote in school board elections as early as 2024 https://oaklandside.org/2023/08/28/oakland-youth-vote-measure-qq-2024-school-board-election/
THE DEFT DIVE
FROM BING AI
Measure QQ, which lowers the voting age to 16 for OUSD board elections:
- - Measure QQ was a ballot measure that was approved by 67% of Oakland voters in the 2020 general election¹². It amended the city charter to authorize the city council to allow 16- and 17-year-olds who are otherwise eligible to vote under state and local law to vote for the office of school board director⁵.
- - The measure was supported by a coalition of youth organizations, such as Oakland Kids First, All City Council Student Union, and Youth Together, who argued that young people should have a voice in the laws that affect their lives and a stake in the future of their country¹². They also claimed that lowering the voting age would increase voter turnout and develop lifelong voting habits⁶.
- - The measure faced some opposition from people who believed that 16-year-olds are not mature enough to participate in elections, or that they would be influenced by their parents or teachers⁶⁷. Some also argued that the measure was unnecessary, since OUSD already has two student directors who are elected by students and can advise the board on issues affecting them⁷.
- - The implementation of Measure QQ has been delayed due to technical and legal challenges. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters, which oversees the elections in Oakland, has not made the necessary changes to its voter databases and ballots to accommodate the younger voters¹. There are also privacy concerns about how to protect the personal information of minors who register to vote¹.
- - In June 2023, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors directed the registrar to implement Measure QQ by the November 2024 general election¹. The Oakland City Council and the OUSD Board of Education must also pass resolutions detailing how voting will work for young people and who exactly is eligible¹.
- - If Measure QQ is implemented by 2024, 16- and 17-year-olds in Oakland will be able to vote in the school board races for Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7¹. These districts are currently represented by Sam Davis, VanCedric Williams, Mike Hutchinson, and Clifford Thompson, respectively¹¹. The candidates for these seats have not been announced yet.
Bing, 8/29/2023
- (1) Oakland youth could vote in school board elections as early as 2024. https://oaklandside.org/2023/08/28/oakland-youth-vote-measure-qq-2024-school-board-election/.
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- (4) Lowering the Voting Age – Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org. https://www.procon.org/headlines/lowering-the-voting-age-top-3-pros-and-cons/.
- (5) Pro and Con: Lowering the Voting Age in the United States. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-lowering-the-voting-age-in-the-united-states.
- (6) How to attend OUSD school board meetings - oaklandside.org. https://oaklandside.org/2023/08/08/attend-ousd-oakland-school-board-meetings-2023-2024/.
- (7) What is Oakland's Measure QQ? A video explainer by Iris Crawford and .... https://oaklandvoices.us/2020/10/26/what-is-oaklands-measure-qq-a-video-explainer-by-iris-crawford-and-azucena-rasilla/.
- (8) Measure QQ: Lowering the voting age for school board races. https://oaklandside.org/2020/10/26/measure-qq-lowering-the-voting-age-for-school-board-races/.
- (9) Pros and Cons of Lowering the Voting Age - Benefits - proscons. https://prosconss.com/pros-and-cons-of-lowering-the-voting-age.
- (10) The pros and cons of lowering the voting age - Campaigning Info. https://campaigninginfo.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-lowering-the-voting-age/.
- (11) Pros and Cons of Lowering the Voting Age to 16 - Purposeful Politics. https://purposefulpolitics.com/pros-cons-lower-voting-age-to-16/.
- (12) 2022 Election: Meet the OUSD school board candidates for District 6 - MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/2022-election-meet-the-ousd-school-board-candidates-for-district-6/ar-AA12Wdss.
- (13) Who’s running for president in 2024? All the declared candidates. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2023/jun/17/2024-presidential-candidates-biden-trump-republicans-democrats.
- (14) OUSD school board race: Brouhard, Resnick, Bachelor pull ahead. https://oaklandside.org/2022/11/10/oakland-school-board-election-leading-candidates/.
