Vermont

16- and 17-year-olds win right to vote in local elections in Vermont town

That means some voters in Brattleboro could have a hand in choosing major party nominees who are more than 60 years older than they are

By Lisa Rathke • •

A sheet of voter stickers is seen inside Fire Station 38, as people go to the polls for a special election called by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers to decide on statewide budget-balancing ballot propositions on May 19, 2009 in Pasadena, California. The governor says that a passage of the suite of measures is crucial to repairing the state budget crisis. The initiatives were put forth to voters after a drawn-out battle between politicians to solve the deficit which has resulted in painful cuts to education and services and the loss of thousands of jobs. The deficit is projected to hit $15.4 billion in the fiscal year that begins in July if voters pass the ballot measures. If not, the deficit will balloon to $21.3 billion, according to the governor�s office. Polls though indicate that Proposition 1F, which prohibits the governor, lawmakers and other state officials from getting pay raises any time the state has a budget deficit, is the only one of the six measures that appears to have enough support to pass. It is the 12th times in seven years that Californians have been faced with complex budget measures. Voter turnout is expected to be low. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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Sixteen and 17-year-olds in one Vermont town will get to vote in the local elections next week. And those who turn 18 by the November general election will be permitted to vote in the state’s presidential primaries on Super Tuesday.

That means some voters in Brattleboro could have a hand in choosing major party nominees who are more than 60 years older than they are. Democratic President Joe Biden is 81 and Republican front-runner Donald Trump is 77.

The change to the town’s charter required legislative approval, and the Republican governor twice rejected the measures. But the Democratic-controlled Legislature last year overrode a veto and gave more of Brattleboro's teenagers the greenlight to cast ballots.

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