2020 California Proposition 18

The 2020 California Proposition 18 would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will turn 18 by the subsequent general election.

Appearing on the ballot in the 2020 California elections on November 3, 2020, the proposed state constitutional amendment was originally introduced as California Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 4 (ACA 4) by Assemblymember Kevin Mullin. ACA 4 passed the California State Assembly on August 22, 2019, amended and passed by the California State Senate on June 25, 2020, and was re-approved by the California State Assembly on June 26, 2020. After being put on the ballot, ACA 4 was given the ballot designation of Prop 18. Because it is a proposed constitutional amendment, 2020 Proposition 18 must appear as a ballot proposition and be approved by voters.

Proposition 18 is one of two proposed ballot measures in the 2020 California elections that would expand voting rights. The other is Proposition 17, which would allow individuals on parole to vote. Even though Proposition 17 passed, Proposition 18 failed, by a margin of roughly twelve percentage points.

Background
In the last 20 years, California has held primary elections in February (2008), March (2000, 2002, 2004, 2020), and June (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016). Currently, 18 other states and the District of Columbia allow people who are 17 to vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the general election in November. Both of these are proposed amendments to the California Constitution that originated in the California State Assembly.

Support
The official Argument in Favor of ACA 4 was submitted by Assemblymember Kevin Mullin and Assemblymember Evan Low.

Endorsements
Newspapers Organisations
 * The Bakersfield Californian
 * East Los Angeles College Campus Times
 * Los Angeles Times
 * Mountain View Voice
 * Palo Alto Weekly
 * San Diego Jewish World
 * The San Diego Union-Tribune
 * San Francisco Chronicle
 * Santa Barbara Independent
 * California Democratic Party

Individuals
 * California Green Party
 * East Bay for Everyone
 * Equality California
 * League of Women Voters California
 * ACLUs of Northern and Southern California
 * Peace and Freedom Party
 * San Francisco League of Pissed Off Voters
 * National Nurses United
 * California Federation of Teachers
 * SEIU United Healthcare Workers West
 * Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
 * Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State

Opposition
The official Argument Against ACA 4 was submitted by Ruth Weiss, Co-Founder of the Election Integrity Project California, Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and Larry Sand, a retired teacher.

Endorsements
Newspapers
 * The Mercury News
 * The Orange County Register
 * The Press-Telegram
 * Santa Cruz Sentinel
 * The Desert Sun
 * Palo Alto Daily Post
 * Santa Barbara News-Press

Organisations
 * California Republican Party
 * Election Integrity Project California
 * Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association