Oakland Youth Vote
What is Oakland Youth Vote?
Oakland Youth Vote (OYV) is a historic initiative that empowers 16- and 17-year-olds in Oakland to vote in school board elections. Since school board decisions directly impact students, this ensures they have a say in shaping their education and developing lifelong habits of civic engagement.
Voting at a young age helps teens understand the power of their voices in democracy, teaching them to be civically engaged, and involved in governing their communities. By participating in elections, they gain firsthand experience in advocacy, policy-making, and the importance of holding leaders accountable.
Oakland Kids First co-founded the Oakland Youth Vote Coalition and campaign in 2019 and organized their peers and elected officials to create Measure QQ which was placed on the November 2020 ballot. 67% of Oakland voters approved the measure which legalized voting in School Board elections for 16 and 17 year-old Oakland residents. It also began a four year push to develop the systems and build the political will to implement the measure. Oakland’s 16 and 17 year-olds finally cast their historic votes during the November 2024 school board elections! This made Oakland the largest city in the U.S. to enfranchise youth in local elections, setting a national precedent for youth political power.
Why Youth Voting Matters
School board decisions directly impact young people as the Board determines budget allocations and cuts, approvals of school closures and consolidations, programmatic priorities, site resources, and more. These powers directly impact the learning conditions of OUSD’s primary constituency – students. Students have the most to gain/lose from Board decisions and have the most experiential expertise, so it is fitting that they should have the power to help elect School Board members and hold them accountable to their priorities. To learn more about the benefits of youth voting and why youth are ready to vote, visit OaklandYouthVote.org.
Young people are directly impacted by school board decisions that affect their education, well-being, and future opportunities. By granting voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, we ensure that students have a meaningful voice in shaping policies related to:’
- Curriculum Development: Ensuring relevant and engaging educational content.
- Mental Health Resources: Providing adequate support for student well-being.
- Extracurricular Activities: Funding programs that foster personal growth and community engagement.
- School Safety Measures: Creating secure and inclusive learning environments.
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Curriculum Development
Ensuring relevant and engaging educational content.
Mental Health Resources
Providing adequate support for student well-being.
Extracurricular Activities
Funding programs that foster personal growth and community engagement.
School Safety Measures
Creating secure and inclusive learning environments.
Oakland Youth Vote Coalition Highlight
Learn about the inspiring journey youth organizers and the Oakland Youth Vote Coalition are on to make Measure QQ, the Oakland Youth Vote legislation that allows 16 and 17-year old Oaklanders the right to vote in school board elections, a reality. We are working hard to ensure youth can vote by November 2024.
How We Made History: The Oakland Youth Vote Timeline
Oakland Youth Vote didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of years of organizing, advocacy, and student leadership. From the creation of the OYV campaign in 2019 and the passage of Measure QQ in 2020 to a four year push for implementation and finally the first youth vote election in 2024, here’s a look at the key moments that made history.
Oakland Youth Vote for the First Time!
- 16 and 17 year-olds vote in Oakland and and Berkeley Unified School District school board elections for the first time in history!
- Thanks to the implementation advocacy led by the Oakland Youth Vote coalition, Berkeley youth also became eligible to vote under Measure Y1, nearly eight years after its passage.
Preparing First-Time Voters
- The Alameda County Registrar announces that youth voting will happen in the November 2024 elections!
- The OYV Coalition increases high school voter registration drives.
- OYV Teacher Champions implement a week-long civic engagement curriculum to prepare youth for voting at high schools across OUSD.
Implementation Takes Critical Step
- The Alameda County Board of Supervisors directs the Registrar of Voters to finalize youth voting infrastructure.
- Oakland City Council passes an ordinance solidifying OYV implementation.
- A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed between Alameda County, Oakland, Berkeley, and Berkeley Unified School District to facilitate youth voting logistics.
- OYV Coalition
Escalating the Fight for Youth Voting
- Youth organizers lead student voter education campaigns and voter registration across Oakland public high schools.
- OYV Coalition mobilizes students to attend Alameda County Board of Supervisors and Oakland City Council meetings, demanding progress on youth vote implementation.
- Despite being unable to vote in the 2022 and 2023 School Board elections, students hold youth-led OUSD school board candidate forums, ensuring youth voting is a central election issue.
- OYV Coalition develops a week-long civic engagement unit and recruits teachers to run it with their students. Evaluation of teachers and students follows and the curriculum is further strengthened.
Pushing for Implementation
- The OYV Coalition launches an inside/outside organizing approach to pressure city and county officials to implement Measure QQ.
- The coalition drafts and passes a "Supporting the Implementation of Measure QQ" resolution with the OUSD School Board in June 2022.
Measure QQ Campaign & Passage
Oakland Youth Begin Organizing
- Inspired by youth voting movements nationwide, Oakland youth leaders form the Oakland Youth Vote Coalition and launch a campaign to win voting rights in Oakland.
- Youth Organizers and adult allies meet with City Council members to explore support for the issue.
Berkeley Passes Measure Y1
The Impact
In November 2024, hundreds of 16- and 17-year-olds in Oakland cast their first votes, proving that young people are ready and eager to participate in democracy. Their engagement demonstrated the power of student voices in shaping policies that directly impact their schools and futures. We are currently evaluating the first ever youth vote to recommend system improvements that will allow the 2026 elections to be even more powerful.
