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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion of a Third Request from “Vote 16 Culver City” to Lower the Voting Age to 16 for Culver City Municipal Elections; and (2) Direction to the Culver City’s Elections Official/City Clerk as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: February 9, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-5859
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (02/05/2026)
Department Approval: Lisa Soghor, Assistant City Manager (02/05/2026) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) discuss a third request from “Vote 16 Culver City” to lower the voting age to 16 for Culver City Municipal Elections; and (2) direct the Culver City’s Elections Official/City Clerk as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND
On September 3, 2019, individuals representing Vote 16 Culver City (Vote16CC) addressed the City Council to request lowering the voting age to 16 in Culver City, which would only apply to local City elections. City Council directed staff to place consideration of Vote 16 CC’s request on a future agenda. This matter was delayed by the pandemic.
On March 9, 2022, staff met with the City Council Ad Hoc Voting-Related Ballot Measures Subcommittee - Mayor Daniel Lee and Council Member Alex Fisch (“Subcommittee”) to discuss the Vote16CC request. The Subcommittee recommended and the City Council approved placing a charter amendment on the ballot to lower the voting age to 16 for City municipal elections. Measure VY failed at the November 8, 2022 election by a vote of YES: 8,293 vs. NO 8,309.
In 2023, Vote16CC asked City Council to again place same measure on an upcoming election. When the Council declined, Vote16CC started an initiative process, which allows any member of the public to gather signatures to qualify a measure (e.g. an ordinance, law, etc.) An initiative process is different from the City’s legislative process to place a measure on the ballot. For an initiative measure to qualify for the ballot, proponents of the measure must obtain signatures from 10% of the registered City voters on a petition. Vote 16 failed to receive the required signatures necessary to move forward.
On August 11, 2025, Vote16CC representatives again asked the City Council to consider a ballot measure to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 and/or 17. The Council asked staff to return with a discussion item.
Current Cities that Allow Voters Under 18 to Vote.
Please see attachment with cities that have approved measures to allow for voters under 18 to Vote, along with cities that have held elections during which those under age 18 have voted.
About Vote 16 Culver City
Vote 16 Culver City is part of Vote 16 USA, a national campaign to support lowering the voting age at a local level. Culver City students have been meeting with local officials and are working to build support for their initiative to lower the municipal voting age to 16. On the Vote 16 Culver City website (vote16culvercity.org), the group states that their members have met with City Council Members and have gained the endorsement of the local Democratic Club chapter and others.
Vote 16 Culver City has stated the below reasons for lowering the municipal voting age to 16:
1. Revision of the voting age is a common historical occurrence;
2. Similar measures have been passed in other municipalities;
3. Teens possess the cognitive capacity to vote;
4. Young people are educated and engaged;
5. Lowering the voting age has been shown to increase voter turnout.
DISCUSSION
This request is identical to the first two requests from Culver City Vote16. Attached is the VY measure language that was approved to lower the voting age to 16 for Culver City municipal elections and Culver City Board of Education for placement on the November 2022 election ballot. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Fisch, Lee, McMorrin and Noes: Eriksson, Vera.
If it passes, the measure would lower the age requirement from 18 years of age to 16 and would allow those aged 16 and 17 to vote only in City and CCUSD Board elections. However, before the measure could be implemented, the City Council and the CCUSD Board would need to determine that the conditions listed in the Measure are met.
The conditions include having equipment, software, and procedures in place for voter registration and for casting votes during the election. These systems and logistics must be technically capable and ready to handle accommodating 16- and 17-year-old voting.
Additionally, the Measure allows the City and the CCUSD to independently decide, as to their respective elections, the manner, method, and times at which 16- and 17-year-olds may cast their votes, which do not need to be the same as those for persons 18 and older. Measure VY Ballot Measure Language Measure VY: “Shall the measure amending the Charter of the City of Culver City to allow Culver City residents aged 16 and 17, who are otherwise eligible to vote under state and local law, to vote on City and School District candidates and ballot measures, provided that each legislative body has approved budgetary funds and determined logistical systems are in place, and that inclusion would not prevent consolidation of City or School District elections with county elections, be adopted?”
City Council may decide to approve the request to place the measure on the November 3, 2026, agenda or deny it. If it is denied, then CCVote16 could again try to petition Culver City voters via the initiative process.
Number of Currently eligible 16- and 17- year-olds that could vote currently, if the measure was in effect today.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there were 40,779 citizens residing in Culver City of all ages. According to the American Community Survey of 2024, there were 1,064 residents between the ages of 15-17. Dividing that number by 3 and multiplying the result by 2 would yield an estimated number of 16- and 17-year-olds who could potentially vote in an upcoming election. The number of 16- and 17-year-olds who have pre-registered to vote is being provided by Los Angeles County.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Approval of placing the measure on the ballot would cost an additional amount. The Los Angeles County Clerk/Registrar Recorder’s Office (LACCC/RR) has an estimate calculator that suggests an approximately $20,000 would be needed, in addition to the other costs for the consolidation with the County to administer the election. This would remain the same regardless of the process used to place the measure on the ballot. If approved, funds will be included in the Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 in Account No. 10111100.610600 (Election Services).
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026-02-09 - ATT 1 U.S. Cities Allowing Voters Under 18 to Vote in Elections.
2. 2026-02-09 - ATT 2 Proposed 2026 Measure Text (Identical to 2022 Measure Text )
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
1. Discuss the Request of CCVote16;
AND
2. Approve the request to place a measure on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election;
OR
3. Decline the request to Place a Measure on the Ballot for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election.