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Dear Elected Official,

Hello, my name is Samantha Strauss and I live in Cathedral Heights, DC. I am sixteen years old and currently a student at Edmund Burke School. I am writing to you to ask for your support of Vote16DC. This bill would lower the voting age to sixteen. I feel that it is very important for you to support this bill because I and many of my peers feel strongly about the decisions that are being made and are frustrated that we don't have a say in it. We don't even have the right to make decisions on things that would directly affect us like polices involving schools. I know that there has been a low turn out of millennial voters so to stop this from happening to this generation we should lower the voting age because giving people the right to vote at a younger age will teach them the importance of voting and help them build the habit. Now more than ever students are more educated about the world around them, so please, support Vote16DC and let our voices be heard.

Thank you,
Samantha Strauss

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Dear ____________,

My name is India Berry and I am sixteen years old. I am junior at the Edmund Burke School, and I live in Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. I am writing to ask you to consider supporting Vote16DC. Vote16DC would lower the voting age to 16. I implore you to consider supporting this bill because it would enable young people to voice their thoughts on politics and the changes that they want to see in the world around them. I think that lowering the voting age would provide young people a valuable lesson on the way that their voice can affect the world around them, and how voting can make change happen.

Thank you,
India Berry

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Dear Mr. Hogan,

My name is Ben McLenaghan. I’m a 17 year old student of the Edmund Burke School in DC, and I live in Bethesda. I am writing to ask you to change the specifics of the PLA (Maryland Parental Leave Act). While I think that it’s great that new mothers and fathers in Maryland get six weeks of leave, I think that leave should be paid. When my mother had me, she hadn’t saved up much money yet, and my older brother had some medical issues that cost a lot of money. This was before the PLA was passed, but luckily her company gave her leave, but it was unpaid. We had to live paycheck by paycheck because she didn’t receive pay on her leave, and she went back to work really before she should have because we needed the money. Please, Mr. Hogan, give new parents paid leave, they need it.Please respond to this email address when you have made a decision.

Thank you for your time,

Ben McLenaghan

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Hi, my name is Elez and I am a sixteen-year-old student from Glover Park, DC and I attend Edmund Burke School. I am writing concerning the Vote16DC issue. As a student and a sixteen-year-old, I think it is very important to let sixteen-year-olds vote in all elections. Many policies the DC council passes concern the schools me and my peers go to, so shouldn’t we have a say in the decisions? Also, many of us already have jobs that we are paying taxes on, so we should have representation. I am asking you to please sign the bill allowing sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to vote in the polls. Thank you!

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Dear Elected Official,

My name is Hanh Fofana, I am 16 years old and I go to the Edmund Burke School in Washington D.C. However, I live in Montgomery County. I am writing to you because as a student and with the recent school shootings, I am very concerned about the subject of gun violence. Recently I found the Baltimore County - Public Schools - Active Assailant Event Training and Drills Bill which would require Baltimore Public schools’ faculty to have training on dealing with a school shooter in the event that a gun assault occurred. I would really like to see this bill passed because I do not want to see another school shooting to happen, especially in my home state. I feel very passionate about this topic because thinking about kids my age, who have so much ahead of them, being killed during a mass shooting is heartbreaking. I would really appreciate it if you could support and help pass this bill.

Thanks you so much!

Sincerely,
Hanh Fofana

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Dear Council Member Cheh,

I am Niko Akaras and I am 16 years old. I live in College Park, Maryland. However,  I am a student at the Edmund Burke School in your ward. I am writing to request your support, be that co-sponsoring or voting,  for Vote16DC. As a politically minded 16 year old myself I would love to have my voice heard in the electoral process and I know many of my peers are excited at the prospect of possibly recieving a vote in the district. This bill is a unique oportunity for Washington to once again carve a more progressive and just future for America where more voices are heard in our democracy

Thank you.

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Dear Council Member Mary Cheh (W3),
My name is Gigi Sherman and I go to school at the Edmund Burke School. I am 16 years old and I am a resident of Arlington, Virginia. Even though I live in Virginia, I am quite concerned that the Vote16DC bill will not get passed. I have many friends who live in DC and even though a few of them might not be mature enough to vote, the majority are competent individuals, who really care about their representation and rights. In my experience I frequently observe the passion of my friends as well as other youth around the DMV. This passion is pervasive due to the liberal and progressive agenda of my school. For example the act of writing this letter shows the service oriented mindset and the advocacy mindset that my school persuades us to have and keep throughout our lives. It's important that you know my background and understand that most 16 year olds are way more competent and knowledgeable than the average 30 year old. It is very important to get this bill passed because younger people tend to vote Democrat and having more youth eligable to vote will greatly effect election results. Studies have shown that the earlier a person starts voting the more likely they are to continue voting throughout their lives. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and opinions. I urge you to support and help pass this bill.
Thank you,
Gigi Sherman

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Hello ______,

I am Will Kully, and I am a 16-year-old student at Edmund Burke School and a Capitol Hill resident. I am writing to you about the bill that would allow 16-year-olds to vote. As a student, I have heard numerous stories from peers stating their view on the bill. Most of these views follow the basic formula of “I know many 16-year-olds who are definitely mature enough to vote,” and most of them also include “I know many 20-year-olds who are not mature enough to vote.” While this may very well be true, it is anecdotal and represents a vocal minority of 16-year-olds. In reality, there are millions of 16-year-olds in this country, and they are not all ready to vote. According to the “Kids Count” Data Center, there are 12,428,573 16-year-olds in the US. While this number is largely meaningless because of the lack of context, I use it to show the sheer number of people we are introducing into elections, most of who have no education about who they are voting for. I propose a solution. I suggest beginning mandatory non-partisan education about local officials every election year in high school. This education should show the officials, their core policies, and the party they support. While these students will not be able to vote until their senior year, they will, at that time, be familiar with their officials, and will also be able to fully understand their options when it comes time to fill out a ballot. This is not to suppress the voices of these 12,428,573 16-year-olds across the country. It is to prepare them for when it is their turn to determine the fate of the country so they can make choices that most align with their interests.

Thank you,

Will Kully

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Dear _______,
My name is Arianne DeCuir, and I’m a 16 year old living in DC. I’m in 11th grade at the Edmund Burke School in Ward 3. I’m sending this email because I believe strongly in the Vote16 bill. Many 16 year olds are politically active in DC simply because of the environment we live in. We believe strongly in many federal and local issues, and would take voting very seriously. I’m aware of the low voter turnout with the millenials, and that would certainly change if the younger generation was able to come out and vote. We are the future of this community, and there is no better way for our voices to be heard than a vote.

Thanks for your time,

Arianne

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Dear elected official,
My name is Jacob MacDevitt and I am a sixteen year old student living in Bethesda Maryland. I am writing to give my support to the Vote16 bill and to ask you to support it as well. I have always been excited to vote and I believe local government has the ability to do great things for a community. Giving people the right to vote at a younger age will encourage them to remain politically active in the future, and create a beneficial outcome for their communities.
Thank you for your time,
Jacob MacDevitt

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Hello ___,

My name is Sanjay and I live in Prince Georges County Maryland. I have lived in a community that has been plauged with drug abuse. When I was only eleven years old I watched my friend convulse and overdoe on meth. Me and another friend rushed him to a hospital, droped him inside the office, and ran away. We did all of this so that his parrents would not find out because they did, we could not even immagined what would have happened. This was a very traumatic experence for all three of us and I hope other kids will not have to go through that experence. I do belive that you are doing something to try and stop dug circulation in lower income comunities, but you could deffiently do more. I also hope that you can reconsider prosecuting indivudals who use certian drugs and insted try to treat it as a problem that can be fixed without incarceration. I hope that you consider the words that I have said and that you don't just toss them aside. Thank you.

Sanjay

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Dear Elected Official,

My name is Myles Nelson, and I am a 16 year old student at Edmund Burke School and I am a resident of the Southeast quadrant of DC. I am sending this email as a way to contribute as much as I can about an issue I care about: voting rights for 16 year old persons. I believe that a bill that would enable these people to vote would dramatically affect our elections for the better. The juniors and seniors in our nations capital are contain more intellect and hold social justice at a much higher rate than most of the adults in this country, and therefor we should be allowed the right to vote in minor elections here in the District of Columbia.

Sincerely,
Myles Nelson

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Hi, my name is Anna Brooks and I live in Alexandria, VA. I am a junior at the Edmund Burke School and I am 16 years old. I love the organization Remote Area Medical (RAM) and I think it should be more recognized and supported throughout the DMV area. Last year I volunteered with RAM over a long weekend and it was an amazing experience. When I was younger, I would take school trips into a remote area in West Virginia. My class would camp out there on our schools property, and on one trip, we visited a small town located near the property. We learned that many people in the sourrounding area who don't live in town do not have acessible or good health care and no way to get to the doctor. Immediately I knew I wanted to do something to help. That was when I found RAM. At the time I couldn't participate in the service because I was too young, but I have always loved the medical world, so I wanted to do it someday. I want you to use your voice to make RAM more popular. It is an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to help. Thank you and I hope that you will consided this. - Anna Brooks

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Hello Representitive,
My name is Jake Jarvis, a junior from the Edmund Burke School. I am calling to talk about Vote16DC. I believe that the age to vote should be lowered to 16 years old. I believe that since the younger generations are going to be the majority of thee population future we should be able to decide our future. Please pass this along other reps. Thank you.

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Dear ____, My name is Max Streitwieser, I'm a D.C. resident and live in Woodley Park, am a junior at the Edmund Burke School, and am 16 years old. I'm calling because I support the Vote 16 bill in D.C., and believe that it would be beneficial to the community. In such a politically centered city like D.C., children and teens are constantly exposed to politics and change, and often become well-educated on politics and politically active themselves. Most D.C. residents understand how important the voting process is, and how seriously it should be taken. We live only miles away, sometimes even less, from the capital building, white house, and supreme court, and where all of the major decisions for our country are made, and it is a great privelege to be able to experience that first hand everyday in our home. D.C. teens feel empowered are often well-informed, and I believe that we would be responsible and effective voters. We are excited and filled with energy, and feel ready to make important decisions and become part of the real world. People who start voting when they are young are much more likely to continue to vote when they are older, and to remain responsible citizens. My ask for you is to further consider passing this bill to allow residents to start voting at age 16 and to empower the politically active youth of D.C.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
-Max Streitwieser

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Dear...,
My name is Felix Beuker. I am 16 and live Cleveland Park in Washington DC. I am a junior at the Edmund Burke School. I have called you today to let you know that I support the Vote 16 bill, and asking you to please consider supporting it as well. One beneficial outcome of this bill would be that teens would learn how to be involved in our country's politics. Many young people today are apathetic to our country's issues, and don't feel the need to vote or participate in anyway. While passing this bill would be a small start, I think it would galvanize teens nationwide to become participatory in our nation. Thank you for your time.

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Hi _________, My name is Jonah. I live in Glover Park, I'm 16, and attend the Edmund Burke School. I'm calling to discuss my support of the vote 16 bill in DC, and believe that going through with this bill would have a positive affect on our community. One personal story about this bill that I could share, is how homelessness has affected my community, and how our residents are pushing the city to step in more. Our neighborhood has a vacant lot that would fit a homeless shelter well, but it is residentially owned. However, we have a vacant Whole Foods that is already built and is city owned that we feel would be a better fit for a homeless shelter. My mother is running for neighborhood commissioner in order to try and make a difference in using vacant city lots instead of residentially owned ones. I believe that by allowing younger people to vote, a larger group's opinion could be heard and more people could make a bigger difference in the outcome of these situations. I believe more people would be reaching out to the mayor and other city council members if they were given the leverage to do so. If possible, could get you to sign the Vote 16 DC bill? Thank you, and enjoy your day!