About the Institute
August 17, 2020
Conversation on a lower voting age at Edward M. Kennedy Institute to highlight past and present efforts
Movement to expand voter enfranchisement to be program focus as civic engagement rises among younger Americans and general election quickly approaches
Boston, MA – On Wednesday, August 19, at 5:30 p.m., the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate will convene a virtual discussion on the societal movement to lower the voting age and the power of coalitions to push for change from both a historical and modern perspective. Featured participants in the virtual event include Patricia Keefer, an original member of the Youth Franchise Coalition that was instrumental in the passage of the 26th Amendment, and current activists from MassVOTE and Generation Citizen working on voting rights and lowering the voting age to 16 years old.
Youth activism and participation were key in the movement to lower the voting age from 21 years old to 18 years old, and the ultimate passage of the 26th Amendment guaranteeing this right. Senator Edward M. Kennedy worked with coalitions to gain congressional support for this effort and truly believed in the power coalitions wielded to bring about change through advocacy and education. The current efforts to lower the voting age to 16 years old have seen some success throughout the United States and share many similarities to prior voting rights movements.
While the Institute’s facility remains closed for the time being, its commitment to civic engagement and civic education is as strong and vibrant as ever. This program marks the Institute’s ninth interactive online offering which will be available both as a live event and as a recorded resource afterward. Any member of the general public who would like to attend can register here.
WHO:
• Juwonni Cottle, YCL coordinator, MassVOTE
• Patricia Keefer, Youth Franchise Coalition
• Brandon Klugman, Vote16USA campaign manager, Generation Citizen
• Cheryl Crawford, executive director of MassVOTE, moderator
WHAT:
Lowering the Voting Age: Then and Now – virtual event
WHEN:
Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 5:30 p.m. EST
WHERE:
This conversation will be conducted online through a Zoom video conference. Registration is recommended and available here.
The program’s livestream can be access here.
This event is OPEN PRESS. RSVP to press@emkinstitute.org.
About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. Learn more via emkinstitute.org.
