Berkeley council adopts ordinance letting 16- and 17-year-olds vote in school board elections

The Berkeley City Council voted July 9 to adopt an ordinance permitting residents ages 16 and 17 to vote in Berkeley Unified School District school board elections and approved a resolution calling the November election.

City staff told the council that Alameda County has tested the technical systems and engaged outside contractors to enable youth voting this fall. “The item before you does two things: it adopts an ordinance permitting voting by persons age 16 and 17 in school board elections, and it adopts a resolution calling for youth voting in the November election,” said Mr. Harvey, the staff presenter. He told council members that the city charter requires that no city funds be used for youth voting and that any election costs must be covered by the school district.

Students and residents urged the council to act. “Being able to vote in school board elections would mean that my peers and I could feel represented in the schools that we attend every day,” said Jacob Goldman, a rising senior at Berkeley High School. Maisie Klein, a Berkeley High alumna who worked on youth voting efforts as a teenager, urged the council to approve the measure so current students would have the opportunity she did not.

Councilmembers framed the action as both long delayed and broadly beneficial. “This is really important for a couple of reasons,” Councilmember Luna Parra said, thanking past advocates and staff and urging expanded voter education so eligible youth can participate. Councilmember Humbert, who said he had supported Measure Y1 in 2016, called the ordinance “cost neutral for the city” and said he would vote yes. Councilmember Hahn emphasized outreach beyond Berkeley High to private and religious schools and asked about rules governing campaigning on or near school property.

The ordinance implements authority granted by Measure Y1 (voter-approved in 2016) and the city charter; the charter language also bars Berkeley from using city funds for youth voting. Mr. Harvey said the resolution asks the Alameda County registrar to place a vote center at Berkeley High School if feasible to facilitate student participation.

Councilmember Tregga and others stressed equity and access concerns. “I want to make sure that... there is accessibility, that all young people, no matter what their race is, if they have a disability... are able to vote in this November election,” said Vanessa, a local board commissioner and nonprofit executive director who addressed the council during public comment.

Before calling the vote, the mayor opened the floor to in-person public comment and the council heard multiple student speakers and parents urging passage. With no remote speakers, Mayor Aragon moved to adopt the ordinance and the accompanying resolution; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote. The city clerk read yes votes from councilmembers present and noted one absence.

The ordinance applies only to the right to vote in school board elections; council members asked about but did not adopt any change to candidate-eligibility rules. When asked whether 16- and 17-year-olds could run for school director, staff responded that the ordinance permits voting rights only, not candidacy.

The council adjourned the 5 p.m. special meeting after the vote. The resolution calls the November school board election and requests county support for a vote center on the Berkeley High campus; implementation will depend on final county testing, coordination with Berkeley Unified School District and adherence to the charter’s funding prohibition.