25 states currently allow a 17 year old to vote in primaries
The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents states from “denying” suffrage to 18-year-olds, but does not prevent states and cities from establishing a lower voting age.
Reduction of Voting Age – 26th Amendment
Problem:
A 16 year old in the state of Texas can get married, drive, work full time, pay taxes and be sentenced as an adult in a court of law.
Yet, they aren’t able to have a say in our electoral system.
Solution(s):
- Allow a 17 year old to vote in primaries and caucuses
- Lower the voting age to 17 state wide
- Lower the voting age to 16 state wide
Alternatives:
- Allow 14 to 17 year olds to vote on city and county budgets through participatory budgeting similar to Boston, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and other countries
Texas Constitution
Code – Election code
Chapter 11 – Qualifications and Requirements for Voting
Sec. 11.002 – Qualified Voter
Code- The Texas Constitution
Article 6 – Suffrage
Section 1 – Class of Persons Not Allowed to Vote
Rolling Stone – Why We Should Lower the Voting Age in America
Ballotpedia – Voting in primaries at 17 years old
Washington Post – Hyattsville becomes second U.S. municipality to lower voting age to 16
Fair Vote – 17 year old Primary Voting , Increasing Youth Engagement Through Participation
The Guardian – Why 16 is the perfect age to start voting
USA Today – Austria first to lower voting age to 16
The Guardian view on lowering the voting age to 16
Texas Secretary of State – Voting
New York Times – Campaign to Lower Voting Age to 16 in Local Races Ignites a Debate
Wall Street Journal – Lower Voting Age Gains Traction in Some Cities
Wall Street Journal – Scotland Lowered Voting Age to 16 for Independence Referendum
The Guardian – Votes for 16- and 17-year-olds – where else outside Scotland?
National Youth Rights Association – Top Ten Reasons to Lower the Voting Age
Experiments in Political Socialization: Kids Voting USA as a Model for Civic Education Reform
National Institute for Health – Voting at 16: Turnout and the quality of vote choice
Leaving the Nest and the Social Act of Voting: Turnout among First-Time Voters
Rutgers – American Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds Are Ready to Vote
NPR – Unlikely Advocates Push To Give 16-Year-Olds A Vote — And A Voice
Politico – Why the voting age should be 17
Think Progress – Now, 17-Year-Olds In Ohio Won’t Be Allowed To Vote In This Month’s Primary
New Mexico allows 17-year-olds to vote in primaries
ABC – Californians weigh in on lower voting age
Proposed state amendment could lower voting age in Arizona to 16
Philadelphia Citizen – Ideas We Should Steal: Lower Voting Age to 16
Vermont Public Radio – It’s Time To Talk About Letting 16-Year-Olds Vote
Independent – Richard Branson calls for voting age to be lowered to 16 in wake of Brexit
New Jersey Bill to Expand Primary Voting Rights Clears Assembly
The Nation – Sweet 16: The Case for Lowering the Voting Age
Voice of America – Greece to Lower Voting Age, Adopt Proportional System
The Daily Pennsylvanian – Reflecting on the anniversary of the 26th Amendment
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