CA Prop 18 Explained: What To Know Before You Vote Election Day

LOS ANGELES, CA — Proposition 18, one of two constitutional amendments seeking to expand voting rights in California, would give 17-year-olds a chance to vote in a primary election as long as they turn 18 by the general election.

That means in a year like this, 17-year-olds could have cast a ballot for a presidential contender in the March 3 primary as long as they had a birthday sometime in the eight months leading to the Nov. 3 general election.

The measure’s proponents say it would help engage young people in the civic process and foster a lifelong sense of civic duty. Opponents argue that 17-year-olds are still children, easily influenced by their parents and not ready for the responsibility of informed voting.

"Seventeen-year-olds are legal minors. Under that definition, they are still considered children,” according to the Election Integrity Project California, which authored the measure’s opposition argument. “They are almost all still living at home and under the strong influence of their parents. This is not conducive to independent thought and voting without undue pressure from their immediate superiors."

Supporters believe that anyone old enough to vote in the general election should have a say in the primary election leading up to it.

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“We need youth voices to be represented at the ballot box. Allowing some 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if, and only if, they will be 18 by the time of the general election is a simple way to amplify the voices of young voters throughout California and will lead to a more inclusive election process for our state overall,” wrote Assembly Members Kevin Mullin and Evan Low in the official ballot argument for Proposition 18. “California is behind the curve when it comes to this issue. Nearly half of states in the U.S. already allow 17-year-olds to participate in primaries and caucuses. If an individual plans to participate in the general election as a first-time voter, it is only reasonable that they be afforded the opportunity to shape the choices that appear on the general election ballot by participating in the primary.”

The Yes on 18 - Vote for Our Future PAC has spent $130,391.92 to promote the measure, while no official opposition campaign has organized.

The measure’s supporters include Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Democratic Party and Secretary of State Alex Padilla. The editorial board of The Orange County Register has come out in opposition to the measure.