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New York Age to Vote in Presidential Primary Amendment (2016)
| Age to Vote in Presidential Primary Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Amendment |
| Origin | New York legislature |
| Topic | Suffrage |
| Status | Not on the ballot |
| Not on Ballot |
|---|
 |
| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The New York Age to Vote in Presidential Primary Amendment did not make the November 8, 2016 ballot in New York as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would have allowed a person who will be 18-years old at the time of a presidential election to vote in the preceding presidential primary election. Therefore, someone who is 17 would have been allowed to vote in the presidential primary if that person will be 18 by the presidential election.[1]
Text of measure
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article II, New York Constitution
The proposed amendment would alter Section 1 of Article II of the New York Constitution. The following underlined text would be added by the proposed measure's approval:[1]
Support
Justification
Sponsors of Bill A00504 included the following "Justification:"[1]
| “ | Allowing 17-year-olds who would be 18 by the time of a general
election the opportunity to vote in a primary would be a positive first step as it would allow those individuals who are eligible to vote in November the opportunity to vote for a candidate in the primary, thereby encouraging them to participate in the process. Voting is a basic obligation of being a United States citizen. It only makes sense to get our young people involved and invite them to take part in the election process. Furthermore, this bill would address a shocking inequity in our laws that allow a 17 year old to eligible to enlist in the armed forces and fight in a war but not have the ability to vote. A grass roots group called Rock the Vote, founded over twenty years ago, encourages young voters to register and vote and to engage in politics. It has expanded its campaign to high school seniors and supports voting in presidential primaries if 17 year old's will turn 18 by the general election. Rock the Vote is dedicated to building the political power of young people by engaging them in the electoral process and urging politicians to pay attention to issues that matter to young voters. Currently about half of the states allow 17 year old primary voting. Other states allow 17 year old primary voting in a presidential year which is the objective of this legislation.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the New York Constitution
According to the New York Constitution, a majority vote is required in two successive sessions of the New York State Legislature in order to qualify the amendment for the ballot. The legislature did not act on the measure before adjourning on June 16, 2016.
See also
Footnotes
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State of New York Albany (capital) |
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