Election Law - Voting Age - Board of Education Elections (Your School, Your Voice Act)

HB 52, the "Your School, Your Voice Act," proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Maryland counties to authorize 16-year-olds to vote in local school board elections. It would add a new section to the state constitution giving counties the power to lower the voting age for school board elections through local laws, requiring counties to formally adopt such rules. Currently, voters must be 18 for all elections, but this bill would specifically permit 16-year-olds to vote in school board races if their county passes a local law enabling it. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 general election before taking effect.