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A3549Assembly2017-2018 SessionSame asS3979

Let 17-Year-Olds Vote Early

Official title

“Amends the constitution to allow persons who will be 18 years old at the time of a presidential election to vote in primary election if 17 at the time”

Sponsor Michael CusickAD-63+26 co-sponsorsAffects Legal
Status
In Assembly Committee
Judiciary
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Judiciary

What's happening

This bill allows 17-year-olds to vote in presidential primary elections if they will be 18 by the general election.

Why it matters

  1. Expands youth political engagement. Allowing 17-year-olds to vote in the presidential primary if they’ll be 18 by the general election gives younger citizens a direct stake in the nomination process, potentially fostering earlier, lifelong voting habits and greater civic awareness.

  2. Aligns primary and general election participation. This change ensures that everyone who will be eligible to vote in the general election can help choose the candidates, making the primary process more representative of the final electorate.

  3. Could shift primary outcomes. Including younger voters might influence which candidates parties nominate, especially if 17-year-olds have different priorities or preferences than older voters, potentially impacting the political landscape.

  4. Signals a broader move toward youth inclusion. This amendment could pave the way for further reforms aimed at involving younger people in the democratic process, prompting discussions about voting age and youth representation in other contexts.

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Who cares

  • 17-year-old New York citizens

    Those who will turn 18 by the presidential general election would become eligible to vote in the corresponding presidential primary, subject to existing residency requirements.

  • Election administrators

    They would need to apply the proposed age exception when determining eligibility to vote in presidential primaries.

  • Presidential candidates and campaigns

    The amendment would expand the eligible primary electorate to include qualifying 17-year-olds.

Headline styles

Let 17-Year-Olds Vote Early

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Michael Cusick

Assembly Member · Assembly District 63

1 Multi-sponsor

History

  1. Opinion referred to judiciary
  2. To attorney-general for opinion
  3. Ordered to third reading cal.276
  4. Returned to assembly
  5. Died in senate
  6. Referred to judiciary
  7. Delivered to senate
  8. Passed assembly
  9. Advanced to third reading cal.201
  10. Reported
  11. Opinion referred to judiciary
  12. Reported referred to judiciary
Show 2 earlier actions
  1. To attorney-general for opinion
  2. Referred to election law

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

S3979Senate

Let 17-Year-Olds Vote Primaries

In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Diane J. Savino

Impact 4 · Low0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

3549

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 27, 2017

Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK, COLTON, FARRELL, ZEBROWSKI, RAMOS, TITONE, ENGLEBRIGHT, GALEF, CAHILL, GOTTFRIED, ABINANTI, MAGEE, THIELE, LIFTON, WEPRIN, MOSLEY, SEPULVEDA, ROZIC, SANTABARBARA, OTIS, MAYER, BLAKE, STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 2 of the constitution, in relation to qualifications of voters

Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 2 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

Section 1. Every citizen shall be entitled to vote at every election for all officers elected by the people and upon all questions submitted to the vote of the people provided that such citizen is eighteen years of age or over and shall have been a resident of this state, and of the county, city, or village for thirty days next preceding an election; provided, however, a citizen who is seventeen years of age at the time of a primary election for president of the United States and who will be eighteen years of age at the time of the general election for which such primary election is held shall be eligible to vote in such primary election.

§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD89003-01-7

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.