On tap -- 17-year-old voters

House could decide Friday on bill relating to primary elections

In the swirling '60s, men as young as 18 died in Vietnam but had no voice in electing the politicians who sent them to war.

This led to the successful national movement giving 18-year-olds the right to vote. The measure took effect in 1971.

A smaller voting rights movement now is under way in New Mexico.

State Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, has a bill that would allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election to vote in primaries.

His proposal, House Bill 157, could be considered by the House of Representatives as soon as Friday.

The bill cleared the Voters and Elections Committee 7-4 and this week sailed through the Judiciary Committee 14-0.

Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, voted against the bill in the first committee but made no objection to it in the second. Still, Republicans could fight the bill on the House floor. They cast all four votes against it in committee.

A 16-year-old helped Steinborn present the bill to the Judiciary Committee. The lad's argument was that both major parties should embrace the bill because it is a way for them to gain strength.

Steinborn said 19 states already allow those who will turn 18 by the general election to vote in primaries.

Comments

[LaMonte' Patterson]

My name is LaMonte Patterson the "lad" refered to in the above article.
Extending voting rights to 17 year olds would increase youth engagement through particpation. In 2008 there were over 4 million 17 year olds. That year young people had the lowest voting rates (counting all elections) because they qere not prepared for participation. This policy ensures that more young people are on the voter rolls and prepared to participate in primaries and general elections.