LACYD Submits Letter of Support for ACA 2

The following letter declaring LACYD's formal support for ACA 2 was submitted yesterday:

March 9, 2009

Honorable Warren T. Furutani
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0055

Dear Assemblymember Furutani:

It is with great pleasure that I write on behalf of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats to express our support for ACA 2, a which will allow 17-year-olds who will be 18-years-old by the time of the general election to vote in interceding primaries, municipal, and special elections.

Founded more than 30 years ago by Congressman Henry Waxman, Congressman Howard Berman, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and others, Los Angeles County Young Democrats is the largest organization in Southern California focused on giving young people a voice and a vehicle for activism in local, state, and federal political issues.

Existing law allows 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the date of the general election to register and vote in that election, but prohibits these same 17-year-olds from voting in the corresponding primary or special elections. Consequently, they are prohibited from voting for the nominees who will appear on the general election ballot.

ACA 2 would bring California up to date with eight other states, Indiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Maine, Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska, and Virginia. This practice resulted in a higher voter turnout among the 18-24 year-olds demographic in these states.

We look forward to supporting this measure as it progresses through the Legislature.

Sincerely,

Katherine Hennigan
Preident
Los Angeles County Young Democrats