What's happening
This bill allows 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 by the general election date.
Why it matters
Expanding youth participation. By allowing 17-year-olds (who will be 18 by the general election) to vote in primaries, the bill engages younger citizens earlier in the democratic process, potentially fostering lifelong voting habits and greater civic involvement.
Aligning primary and general election voters. The change ensures that those who will be eligible to vote in the general election can also help choose the candidates who appear on the ballot, making the primary electorate more representative of the general election voters.
Influencing candidate selection. Including these younger voters could subtly shift which candidates win primaries, as 17-year-olds may have different priorities and policy preferences, thus affecting the overall direction of party platforms and election outcomes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let 17-Year-Olds Vote Primaries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5006
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the age requirement for voting in a primary election
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 5-102 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. The provisions herein with respect to the age requirement for purposes of qualifying to vote shall not prohibit United States citizens otherwise qualified, who are seventeen years of age, from voting in a primary election, including a presidential primary, if such citizen will be eighteen years of age by the date of the corresponding general election.
§ 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08326-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to the age requirement for voting in a primary election
Purpose
To require United States citizens who are seventeen years of age to vote in the primary election, including a presidential primary, if such citizen will be eighteen years of age by the date of the corresponding general election.
Summary of provisions
This bill would amend the Election Law by adding a new subdivision 3 that would allow United States citizens who are seventeen years of age to vote in the primary election, including a presidential primary, if such citizen will be eighteen years of age by the date of the corresponding general election.
Justification
Currently, in the United States, the legal voting age is eighteen years old. This leaves citizens who are seventeen years of age and will be eighteen years of age by the date of the corresponding general election in the predicament where they would have to wait until the following presidential election to actually vote. By changing the legal voting age to seventeen, this would increase the voter turnout and would essentially give teenagers the incentive to be more politically inclined.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Legislative history/senate
2015-16: S.7783 - Referred to Elections
Effective date
This act shall take effect by January 1, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.