What's happening
This bill proposes amending the New York Constitution to lower the voting age from eighteen to seventeen.
Why it matters
Expanding the electorate to include seventeen-year-olds could significantly increase youth engagement in the political process. , giving younger citizens a direct voice in decisions that affect their education, environment, and future opportunities.
Lowering the voting age may prompt earlier civic education and awareness. , encouraging high schools and communities to provide more resources and programs that prepare young people for informed participation in democracy.
This amendment could shift political priorities and campaign strategies. , as candidates and parties may begin addressing issues that resonate more with younger voters, such as climate change, student debt, and social justice.
By aligning the voting age with other legal responsibilities held at seventeen (such as military enlistment or work), the change could spark broader debates about the appropriate age for other adult rights and responsibilities.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Voting Age to 17
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 44
31 Co-sponsors
- Yuh-Line Niou
- Frank Skartados
- Anthony D'Urso
- Felix Ortiz
- William Colton
- Stacey Pheffer Amato
- Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
- Rebecca Seawright
- Richard Gottfried
- Alicia Hyndman
- Diana Richardson
- Walter T. Mosley
- Carmen De La Rosa
- Jose Rivera
- Jeffrey Dinowitz
- Latrice Walker
- Ellen C. Jaffee
- Michael G. Miller
- John T. McDonald III
- Jo Anne Simon
- Crystal Peoples-Stokes
- Christine Pellegrino
- Luis R. Sepúlveda
- Charles Barron
- Andrew Hevesi
- Victor M. Pichardo
- Fred Thiele
- Michael Blake
- Robert J. Rodriguez
- James Skoufis
- Harvey Epstein
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to election law
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- 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.
Lower Voting Age to 17
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6840
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 22, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CARROLL -- 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 the voting age
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] seventeen 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.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), that the foregoing 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.
LBD89106-01-7
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.