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A ballot measure in Culver City, California, would lower the voting age for some elections from 18 to 16, allowing teenagers to participate in the decision-making process on many issues that directly affect their lives.

The measure would only apply to certain elections within the Los Angeles suburb’s city limits, including races for school board, elections for city officials, and future ballot measures.

Teenagers in the city have pressed for the measure to be passed before, including in 2022, when it failed by only 16 votes. The proposal gained additional support after last year, when school board budget cuts led to dozens of school employees and teachers being fired, including an assistant superintendent for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cuts have also been made to funding for arts programs in the district, and students have said basic supplies (including hand soap in restrooms) have been missing.

The school board does allow three “ceremonial” spots to be held by students in the district, but the direction of the cuts was voted on by the larger board overall, whose members are chosen by voters, with no input from students. Those members outvoted the ceremonial ones, leading to the drastic cuts.

The school board, along with the city council, has “been creating policy that alters the lives of our teenagers without giving them a way to voice their........

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