Vote16PA Roundtable Builds Momentum for Youth Voting Rights in Pennsylvania

On March 12th at 5:00 PM, participants of the Vote16PA initiative of The Fund for Women and Girls co-hosted a roundtable discussion with Representative Chris Pielli, prime sponsor of the Pennsylvania House memo, “Lowering the Voting Age for School Board Elections.”

The hybrid event, held at the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, brought together state-level elected officials and community leaders from across Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties to engage in meaningful dialogue around youth civic engagement and voting access.

Vote16PA participants opened the discussion by sharing the history of the initiative, highlighting how the movement began and the continued efforts to expand youth participation in local democracy. Presenters outlined key research findings, coalition-building strategies, and ongoing social media campaigns aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing support.

Attendees included Representative Boyd, Representative Nelson, Representative Daley, Senator Kane, and Samira Sankaran, Executive Director of the Governor’s NextGen Commission.

The conversation was further enriched by national and academic perspectives. LuJaun Allen, Executive Director of Vote16USA, joined virtually to share insights from similar efforts across the country to lower the voting age. Alysoun McLaughlin, Director of the Election Resilience Lab at the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement and a former election official, provided valuable context on implementation considerations and election infrastructure.

Following presentations and remarks from guest speakers, participants and Representative Pielli engaged in a dynamic Q&A session with attendees, fostering thoughtful discussion and collaboration. The goal of the roundtable was to increase awareness of the Vote16 initiative and build legislative support for lowering the voting age in school board elections. As a result of the conversation, Representatives Boyd and Daley committed to co-sponsoring Representative Pielli’s memo—an important step forward in advancing youth civic participation in Pennsylvania.

The Fund for Women and Girls remains committed to empowering young people, advancing civic engagement, and supporting policies that create more inclusive and representative communities.