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Educators and students weigh in on proposals to lower voting age and change school-holiday law

Howard County state delegation public hearing · January 29, 2026

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Summary

Students, educators and the Howard County Education Association urged expanding student voice—supporting a proposal to lower the local voting age to 16 for Board of Education matters—while teachers cautioned about governance conflicts and calendar/pay implications from related bills on holiday recognition.

Anahisa Gohachaudhry, a Mount Hebron sophomore, urged delegates to support HOCO 5-26 to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections, arguing that early enfranchisement strengthens lifelong voting patterns and connects civic education to practice.

Benjamin Schmidt, president of the Howard…

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