When the proposal to lower the voting age to 16 for municipal elections was on the ballot in 2022, it lost by only 16 votes. At the Feb. 9, 2026, City Council meeting the City Council approved the request to put it on the ballot in November 2026, giving it another chance. The council voted three to two, with Mayor Freddy Puza, Vice Mayor Bubba Fish, and Council member Yasmine Imani McMorrin all voting in favor.
When Culver City first considered the option, there were only two other cities in the country using the protocol; now there are more than 40. From the podium, Cordelia Mullin noted that the first city to offer the vote to 16 year olds in a municipal election, Tacoma Park, Maryland, has seen a significant increase in voter turnout in every election since. “Not only are youth interested in voting, they stay involved. Early voting boosts involvement in the 18-24 age group…and shows that people stay committed and involved.”
Council member Dan O’Brien stretched to try and encompass both sides, but admitted he would not support the motion. As one of the members on the previous council in 2024 who sent it back to the petition process, his lack of support was consistent with his previous position. He specifically cited the concern that parents would simply take advantage of it as an ‘extra’ ballot for them to fill out.
Council member McMorrin took the other side, offering the famous quote from Shirley Chisholm, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Citing the current climate of voter suppression, she expressed her complete support for the measure.
Mayor Freddy Puza noted that “Policies like Vote 16 are shown to [bolster] participation in democracy.” He made the motion bring the proposal back for the ballot on November 3, 2026.
“Let the voters decide.”
Judith Martin-Straw
