Teens lobby for lower voting age

April 10, 2005

OLYMPIA (AP) — A few politically passionate teenagers have made their case for lowering the state's voting age to 16.

"Our country is founded on the concept of no taxation without representation," 17-year-old Heather Kelley told the House Government Operations and Accountability Committee on Friday. "Eighty percent of teens work, yet we have no say on how those taxes are being spent."

For Olympia High School student Kelley, as well as fellow Olympia seniors Kehlen Sachet and Jason Puz, also 17, what began as a class project last fall has gained enough momentum to become a bill in the Legislature. The students formed a state branch of the National Youth Rights Association, an organization focused youth issues, including lowering the voting age. The Olympia teens have also been talking to other high school students about why they should be able to vote.

The National Youth Rights Association is pursuing similar campaigns in California, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Mexico, said Alex Koroknay-Palicz, the association's executive director.

In Washington, the students' arguments caught the attention of Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia. He ended up sponsoring the bill after the students visited his office a couple months ago. "They gave a reasoned, well-researched presentation on why they thought it was a good idea," Hunt said.

The state constitution would have to be amended to change the voting age. Amending the constitution requires two-thirds approval from both state houses before the issue heads to voters. At the federal level, the U.S. Constitution originally defined the voting age as 21, among a slew of other qualifications. The passage of the 26th Amendment in 1971 lowered the age to 18.

States are prohibited from raising the age, but there are no restrictions on lowering it, according to the state's Office of Program Research. Washington joins at least 18 other states that have considered legislation that would lower the voting age. Youth voting is allowed in some other countries, including Iran, Indonesia and Nicaragua.

The trio of teenagers gave the House committee several reasons why the voting age should be 16, from noting that laws made now affect their future to the potential for increasing the voter pool. "We're responsible for a variety of things, including driving at 16 and being tried as an adult in a court of law," Puz said. "But we have no say in how these laws are formed."

Terri Herring-Puz, Puz's mother and a Tacoma lawyer, also testified, telling lawmakers that voting could be one of the best habits parents could teach their teenagers before they leave home.

The bill was introduced too late in the session to be considered this year. But committee members encouraged the students to stick with their campaign. The prospect of a long fight doesn't discourage the teens. They said they will keep working on the issue even after they are in college — and of legal voting age.

"I'm hoping I could vote on my bill," Sachet said.