Takoma Park could become the first city in the United States to lower its voting age to 16 for local elections.

In an effort to encourage more voters in local elections, council members Tim Male and Seth Grimes have proposed several initiatives—one being lowering the voting age. "I really care about making elections easier," Male, council member for Ward 2, said. "I have honestly been interested in this since I've been campaigning. You meet young people who are really engaged but cannot vote."

Male and Grimes said they hope to make other changes to local elections to raise voter turnout as well. Some include easing candidates' access to apartments and requiring apartments to put up notices regarding voting. They also want the city to create welcome packets for new residents that will give them more information about local elections. Male said he realized when he was campaigning how hard it was to get apartment dwellers and new residents involved in the election process.

Male and Grimes' election proposals also seek to allow residents to register to vote on the day of the election, expand early voting opportunities and create a task force on voting to figure out new ways to increase voter turnout. The idea of lowering the voting age for local elections is causing some debate.

Colleen Clay, a former Takoma Park councilmember, said that while she's not "inconvincible," she has not heard much discussion on the issue and it needs to be debated more before the council takes a vote.

Being a mother of two teenagers, Clay said she can attest to the fact that while her children are engaged with certain issues, they have a lot of other interests that are of higher priority.

"Would [my children] be able to understand the issues in the same way? They really don't think so. They are so focused on the crew team, the sailing team...They are focused on being teenagers," said Clay. Others are more sold on the initiative.