Gov to decide if 17 year olds should vote in primaries

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New Mexico Political Report

Gov to decide if 17 year olds should vote in primaries

By Matthew Reichbach | 1 hour ago

The Senate approved a bill that would allow some 17 year olds to participate in primary elections, sending it to the governor’s desk. The proposal passed 24-16.

It would only apply to those who turn 18 between the primary elections and the general elections. New Mexico’s primary elections are currently in June, so it would only apply to those who turn 18 in that five month period between June and November.

Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, co-sponsored the legislation and said it would help create more involvement in politics by young voters.

Still, it received vigorous opposition—from those in both parties.


Read more: http://nmpoliticalreport.com/32660/gov-to-decide-if-17-year-olds-should-vote-in-primaries-nmleg/

[Matthew28]

1. I think it is a great idea

Hell, lower it to 15.

[virgogal]

2. 15 ? No thanks. The adolescent brain is a wonder to behold---but not to make voting decisions..

[Unknown Beatle]

3. Fourteen Or Fight

In this first ever "Rock the Vote," Christopher Jones sings about lowering the voting age to 14. His master plan? Becoming president then herding everyone over 21 into concentration camps to be fed LSD for the rest of their lives. Good idea. Yeah, that's Richard Pryor on drums.

I saw this movie, Wild In The Streets, when it was first released in 1968. I bought the soundtrack album two months later.

[Reter]

4. It will never hold up in court

Last edited Wed Feb 17, 2016, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

It directly violates the 26th Amendment.

[surrealAmerican]

5. I think you mean the 26th Amendment ...

... and I'm not sure this is a violation. The amendment states that people over 18 will not be prevented from voting, but does not necessarily mean people younger than that could not also be allowed to vote.

I would think eligibility for voting in primaries would be entirely up to the political parties, and not a constitutional matter in any event.


The 18th amendment was prohibition. We violate that regularly.

[DrToast]

7. Yes, the key thing is that these are for primaries...

...which are political party elections, not government elections.

[Odin2005]

6. I was able to vote in the 2004 MN caucus when I was 17...

...because I turned 18 just a few weeks later and so was eligible to vote in the general election. I originally was going to caucus for Dean, but he had dropped out so I caucused for Edwards, instead.

[trillion]

8. They will be overwelming dem as the new voters are.

Few kids today want to be associated with the backwards and offensive Republican party.

Good. Hope we can get more states to do this.