Should 16-year-olds be able to vote? A pair of Tempe lawmakers thinks so.
Rep. Ed Ableser, D-17, and Sen. Meg Burton Cahill, D-17, have proposed an amendment to the Arizona constitution that would lower the voting age from 18 to 16 years.
"Right now, 16-year-olds work, pay taxes and contribute to the economy," Ableser said. "But what seperates them from other taxpayers is they don't have the right to vote."
"What happened to no taxation without representation?" he said.
HCR 2010 would give 16-year-olds the right to vote in state, county and local elections.
However, the amendment wouldn't grant them the ability to cast ballots in elections for the United States Senate, House, or president.
The requirements for those elections are set by national laws, not state statutes.
The proposal comes just a week into this year's legislative session.
So far, lawmakers across the state have introduced more than 500 bills, resolutions and amendments.
Ableser alone has proposed more than 50 bills. Several more of those bills deal directly with the voting rights for citizens.
HB238 would allow anyone age 16 or older to register to vote. And HB383 would allow anyone eligible to vote, the ability to register at the polls on election day.
It's not clear how much support Ableser and Cahill will receive for HCR 2010.
But the idea to give 16-year-olds voting rights isn't new.
Florida, Vermont and Rhode Island are among several states that have passed similar legislation or have examined the possiblity, Ableser said.
While Ableser said he understands the "knee jerk" reactions some might have to letting teenagers into the voting booth, he feels there isn't a difference between some one 16 or 18 years old voting.
"Many of these students are in the middle of their government classes, discussing issues and debating topics," he said. "I'd be willing to bet that many 16-year-olds know more about state government and what's going on than many 30, 40, or 50-year-old residents."
