What's happening
This bill allows 17-year-olds to vote in presidential primaries if they will be 18 by the general election.
Why it matters
Expands youth participation in the electoral process. By allowing 17-year-olds who will be eligible to vote in the general election to participate in presidential primaries, the bill helps foster early civic engagement and gives younger voters a direct say in selecting party nominees.
Aligns primary and general election electorates. This change ensures that the same group of voters who choose a party’s presidential nominee in the primary are the ones who will ultimately vote in the general election, making the primary process more representative.
Potentially increases voter turnout and party involvement. By engaging individuals at a younger age, the bill may encourage lifelong voting habits and greater involvement in political parties and civic life, which can strengthen democratic participation overall.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let 17-Year-Olds Vote Primary
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
25 Co-sponsors
- William Colton
- Kenneth Zebrowski
- Philip Ramos
- Steven Englebright
- Sandy Galef
- Kevin Cahill
- Richard Gottfried
- Thomas Abinanti
- Fred Thiele
- Barbara Lifton
- David Weprin
- Walter T. Mosley
- Nily Rozic
- Angelo Santabarbara
- Steven Otis
- Michael Blake
- Phil Steck
- David Buchwald
- Rebecca Seawright
- Donna Lupardo
- Jo Anne Simon
- Robert C. Carroll
- Anthony D'Urso
- Jeffrey Dinowitz
- Catalina Cruz
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Ordered to third reading cal.45
- Advanced to third reading cal.175
- Reported
- Reported referred to judiciary
- 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.
Let 17-Year-Olds Vote Primaries
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Diane J. Savino
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
950
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK, COLTON, ZEBROWSKI, RAMOS, ENGLEBRIGHT, GALEF, CAHILL, GOTTFRIED, ABINANTI, THIELE, LIFTON, WEPRIN, MOSLEY, ROZIC, SANTABARBARA, OTIS, BLAKE, STECK, BUCHWALD, SEAWRIGHT, LUPARDO, SIMON, 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 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.
LBD89006-01-9
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.