NYRA-Berkeley is one of the most active chapters of the National Youth Rights Association (NYRA). NYRA received some of the most widespread media attention it has ever seen due to NYRA-Berkeley's protest outside a polling station on Super Tuesday of the Primary Election in March 2004. They were demonstrating their desire to have their voices heard in the form of ballots. NYRA-Berkeley Officer Zachary Hobesh carried a sign reading, "Got ballots? I need one!" A week after that protest, State Senator John Vasconcellos introduced a bill that would have allowed 14 year olds to vote in state and local elections.

NYRA-Berkeley sent letters to all 120 California state legislators urging them to support the bill to lower the voting age. After the bill died in August 2004, NYRA-Berkeley staged a protest in Sacramento, California on October 30, 2004 where they held signs and protested at the capitol building. NYRA-Berkeley has gotten over 600 letters signed to send to State Senator and Senate Majority Leader Don Perata, urging him to re-introduce the bill to lower the voting age in California. Hopefully this will spark nationwide attention on the issue and we will get closer and closer to our ultimate goal of getting 16 year olds a say in issues that affect their own lives.

For more information on youth enfranchisement, visit NYRA's website at www.youthrights.org!