A new law passed in July 2013 mad Illinois the 20th state to allow 17-year-olds to vote if they will be 18 at the time of the general election. To celebrate their new democratic freedom, 30 students from Northside College Prep voted for the first time Mar. 4th at the Budlong Woods Library, 5630 N. Lincoln Ave. Many of the students who participated said it is empowering to have an influence on how the government is run.