Minutes of the By-Laws and Governance Committee March 13, 2007.

            Chairman Melvin Mackey called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Chatauquah School general purpose room as reassigned by the scheduling authority.

            Mackey was voted president, Robin Hess vice chairman, and Jay Becker recorder. All were present.

            A motion to give 16-year-olds elected to the VMICC board a vote on board actions was discussed again. Arguments for and against were reviewed and improved, and the proposed change voted unanimously to be sent forward to the VMICC board for introduction to the whole council.

            By consensus it was agreed Hess would give the report to the board on this motion and the council.

            Discussion of likely conservative women to become members of the by-laws committee for better balance in committee membership led to consensus agreement for Becker to talk with each serially and report.

            It was moved, seconded and passed unanimously that the committee recommend that our committee operating procedure include a to allow any committee member to say we need a by-laws meeting at a date to be determined. This is because the committee is small and adopted clear procedures for deciding quorums that failure of one member to participate may inhibit functioning.

            Mackey agreed to inquire whether the proposed committee procedures have been formally approved by the board, although given to the board months ago.

Jay Becker, recorder

 

Attachment: Proposed by law amendment to allow youths 16 or older to be voting members of the VMICC board.

 

 

Vashon-Maury Island Community Council Bylaws Proposed Amendment in bold italics, 3-16-07p

 

Article III- Membership

 

Section 1: All Vashon-Maury Island residents are members of this Council.

 

Section 2: Only those members 18 years old and older may vote except those board members 16 years old and older may vote on motions before the board.

 

Section 3: The Vashon-Maury Island Community Council shall not discriminate against individuals/groups on the basis of  race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, income, or political affiliation.

 

Arguments in favor:

 

1. Today 16 year olds are better educated than their parents at the same age including knowledge of how to easily acquire valid information.

2. General arguments for and against moving the voting age for Vashon-Maury Island Community Council motions to 16 years basically are those used to extend suffrage throughout the history of the United States of America. Examples include real property owners to non-owners, highly educated to less educated citizens, readers to non readers, men to women, etc. Logical examination of empirical facts suggests that extending suffrage depends mostly on the will and beliefs of existing voters since most strong arguments for or against are countered by equally strong arguments. (National Youth Rights Organization)

3. There is no significant difference between the voting ability of a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old. (Constitutional Rights Foundation Forum by Youth for Youth.)

4. Most states already allow 16-year-olds to behave as adults, drive vehicles in public roads, work, pay taxes, be charged with crimes as adults, be put to death for crimes, and often to marry (with parental permission) and have children. (Constitutional Rights Foundation Forum by Youth for Youth.)

5. Allowing 16-year-olds to vote will increase the available pool of board candidates and therefore increase representation and improve democracy. (Constitutional Rights Foundation Forum by Youth for Youth.)

6. A voting age under 18 is constitutional (National Youth Rights Organization).

7. There is an effort internationally as well as in the US to lower the voting age to 16 along with other countries where this is already possible. (Iran, Brazil, Nicaragua) (National Youth Rights Organization).

8. This provides outreach to youth.

9. Some general meeting programs may be more interesting to youth if there is a youth on the board.

10. This amendment encourages youth to run for the board.

11.This amendment provides real power to youth, not symbolic.

 

Arguments against:

 

1. At age 16 most young people are not mature enough to make informed decisions.

2. Youths age 16 will not take voting seriously.

3. Youths 16 and 17 will be influenced mainly for or against a certain vote  as a reflection or reaction against their parents' inclinations.

4.  Youths 16 will not vote much.

5.  Allowing youths 16 and 17 vote would simply widen the poll of uninformed voters.

4.  Youths 16 lack "enough" life experiences and knowledge of history to vote wisely (Curtis Gans, Committee for Study of American Electorate).

5.Youths may lose interest and drop off the board.

6. Even with this amendment youths may not run for the board.