There was a time when you had to be 21 years old to vote. Then, the age was lowered to 18 with the rational that if 18-year-olds could be drafted, they should be allowed to vote. Now, in Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, 11-year-olds may be given that right; to vote that is. Sounds cute and clever, right? Not so fast.
It all started when counties started putting students on local school boards. The rationale was that the kids could give the adults a great perspective on how the schools were doing. The argument at the time was that these student board members would NOT vote on any school system issues much less sensitive issues with major impact. In many counties it is still that way.
This is changing.
Student members of eight school boards across Maryland have voting rights, as does the student member of the State Board of Education.
Allowing students to vote on county school board issues seems counterintuitive. Many of these student members are minors who will be voting on issues such as the budget for the system, and, in one instance in 2020, whether or not schools should be reopened after Covid. In that case, the student members in Howard County voted to keep schools closed. This caused a deadlock on the board and therefore the schools did not reopen.
This triggered a lawsuit by two parents. The lawsuit alleged that allowing the students
to vote violated the Maryland Constitution which prohibits minors from voting or from serving in public office. The suit was denied because the Maryland Supreme Court determined that school boards are NOT positions created by the State Constitution. They also determined that the fact that student member positions on school boards were created and their roles defined on school boards in the 70’s and 80’s.
In 2007, a student board member was created for the Howard County Board. The requirements were that the student be 16-17 years of age and live in Howard County.
Their concerns are valid. Where does this end?
Kid under 18 years of age don’t have enough life experiences to make major decisions effecting other kid’s life or the future of our country, sorry but that’s the plain and simple truth.
I spoke about this at the school board meeting on March 6th. I asked that each parent contact Andy Harris at 443-944-8624 and vote NO on house bill 373. This bill gives kids the right to hold office on county school board at the age of 16. EVERY school board member there turned a blind eye. Think twice the next time elections come around. You all created this by not getting involved. Gene malone and his puppets are laughing at your lack of knowledge.