Bill To Lower Voting Age To 14 Passes Senate Committee

[XNavyGunner]

A bill designed to get youth more involved in the elections process passed the state Senate Committee on Elections and Reappointment on Wednesday.

SB 1606 by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, would lower the state's legal voting age to 14. The catch is that it would take four 14 or 15 year olds to make up a whole vote.
The proposed constitutional amendment would give 14- and 15-year-olds 1/4 of a full vote, while 16- and 17-year-olds would get 1/2 a full vote.

Vasconcellos dubbed his bill 'Training Wheels for Citizenship,' and says it is designed to encourage early and regular voter participation among young Californians by affording them a real live stake in the political process.

'It is so sad that so many of our young people today are deserting our voting ranks in ever larger numbers,' Vasconcellos said.

'They are simply not feeling engaged enough to attract them into the regular practice and habit of voting, to participate in their own self-determination. And self-determination is the glory and thrill of our American way of government, and of life itself.'

More (http://www.vacavillenews.co m/articles/index.cfm?artOID=182 670&cp=116)


I am so glad I don't live in Ca. anymore. What kind of morons do they elect? Arnold better not sign this bill into law.

[stan25]

Quote[/b] ]I am so glad I don't live in Ca. anymore. What kind of morons do they elect? Arnold better not sign this bill into law.
I think Arnold has already gone record that he will veto this legislation if it comes to his desk. Besides there is that pesky XXVI amendment to the Federal Constitution that states:

Quote[/b] ]The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Nowhere do I see that 14-17 years olds are allowed to vote. This is another ploy for the http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/jacka.gif ss to get rid of President Bush. It is just like what Mayor Richard J Daley Sr did in Chicago. Some say he had powers to bring the dead to life when it came to voting in http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/jacka.gif

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bushsign.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bushsign.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bushsign.gif

[soccermamamia]

if we were giving voting rights to illegal aliens, may as well concede the election here to demoncrats, but lowering voting age, I dunno. *my 17 y.o. laments he cannot cast his vote for BUSH b/c he won't be old enough. *we are living in californicate. *there are quite a few young conservatives and this group is growing even here in the left coast wasteland.

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[Charie]

This is just another ploy to get more Democrat voters. We have a 17 year old who is very active in our party and let me tell you, he feels very lonely sometimes. This is an egregious vote-getting mechanism. These young "skulls full of mush" are at their most vulnerable to the apparent and not so apparent liberal bias that is so prevalent in our schools. Kids are full of emotion and you know what side appeals to emotions. Let me put it this way: it isn't the Conservatives.

[Repeal 16-17]

Quote[/b] (stan25 @ May 09, 2004 -- 1:38 pm)]Besides there is that pesky XXVI amendment to the Federal Constitution that states:

The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Nowhere do I see that 14-17 years olds are allowed to vote.
The 26th Amendment does not prohibit allowing people younger than 18 from voting. It simply says that someone who is at least 18 can't be prevent from voting "on account of age." Just like a speed limit, it's permissible to go below the stated number. This bill might violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, because it goes against the "one man, one vote" rule of Reynolds v. Sims (1964).

As for how people between 14 and 17 would vote, it's hard to say. Some would vote as their parents vote, some would vote the opposite of their parents, some would simply decide for themselves, and some wouldn't vote. Most 14 to 17 year old girls would probably vote for the cutest guy http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/inlove.gif. In conclusion, I would not lower the voting age to 14, because I do not believe such people are mature enough to vote.

[righton]

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Another GREAT move from the land of fruits & nuts (pols - not CAs that regularly post here). If these youngsters proved to be of the conservative bent, the dems would quickly drop this.
If they would teach NONPARTISAN political science in high schools (not in my lifetime) they would be doing everyone a service by getting them involved, interested, and educated.
But this is asking too much - not to mention finding qualified instructors!
STAN25 - Right - Daley has more voters classified as R.I.P. than anyone else. Not to mention those registered in vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and commerical parking lots. I believe this is still going on, since only dems are brave enough to do any canvassing. I had firsthand experience with this in the '60s. NEVER AGAIN!

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[RAD]

I think because this is an election year we are all missing the underlying issue. They may be trying to lower the age of consent to 14 and then the drinking age the 16. I am sure the pornography industry is involved in this somehow. People of CA. protect your children and impeach Sen. John Vasconcellos.

[PoolGuy]

This issue is being considered for a few reasons. Of course Democrats are beind it and they say they just want to allow people to become more involved in the process. *That's the excuss as so many don't vote and many of those would vote Democrat.
This proposal would:
1.) It will generate more Democrat votes, even though I believe the voting would only be on State issues
2.) It would open the doors for more "discussion" at school. *Of course, this will mean more early indoctrination for Democrat postions by liberal teachers.
3.) I think this will set up an eventual lawsuit as there's no reason to count half votes, quarter votes. *If I were 14 I'd sue for a full vote. *Then the courts can open the door for full votes and maybe voting on all issues and candidates.

*http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif