Todd Weiler and Chris Wharton: Utah should allow 16-year-olds to vote in school board elections

As lawmakers, we are constantly approached with ideas for new legislation — from minor tweaks to sweeping reforms and everything in between. Most suggestions come from constituents who have run into issues with the current law, from agencies within the government, or from professional advocacy groups seeking to advance a particular cause or agenda.

It’s not very common to be lobbied by a high school student wanting to promote civic engagement among her peers and expand the franchise of democracy. But Dhati Oommen is not your average high school student.

Dhati is a junior at West High School in Salt Lake City. She believes that Utah students should be allowed to vote in local school board elections starting at age 16. In a sharp, well-researched presentation, Dhati laid out a compelling case that won over the two of us — a Republican state senator and a Democratic City Council member — and it’s gaining momentum on Capitol Hill.

The legislation (House Bill 338 – School District Voter Eligibility Amendments) does not require local school boards to expand the right to vote to students; instead, it creates a pathway for local school boards to grant such a right if they so choose. While there is no such law currently on the books in Utah, such laws have been implemented in other jurisdictions. Dozens of cities and states have already implemented similar legislation.

Dhati argues that the government which is closest to the people is the government which often has the greatest impact on the daily lives of those it represents. For many students, what greater example could there be than the boards who set policy on curriculum, testing, bussing, teaching, school safety and more?

It is no secret that young voting-aged people under-participate in elections, especially at the local level. By expanding the right to vote to in school board elections to students, 16 and 17-year-olds will be encouraged to vote in all elections when they reach the age of majority. In addition, our electorate will benefit from allowing young people to appreciate the impact their vote on local school board elections before eventually going on to vote on a broader range of issues after they reach age 18.

Utah law already allows 16-year-olds to hold full-time jobs, pay taxes, own businesses, hunt without supervision, get married (with parental consent), seek emancipation, and stand trial as adults. We allow 17-year-olds to join the armed forces. If we trust our public schools every day to educate and prepare our students for adulthood, then we should trust this effort to expand representative democracy in Utah.

Learn more about H.B. 338 at le.utah.gov.

Todd Weiler is a member of the Utah State Senate, representing District 23. He has served in the Utah Legislature since 2012.

Chris Wharton serves on the Salt Lake City Council, representing District 3. He was first elected to the council in 2017.