Relates to the qualification of voters; provides that a citizen who is seventeen years of age at the time of a primary election 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.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6590
SPONSOR: Rozic TITLE OF BILL:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment
to section 1 of article 2 of the constitution, in relation to the quali-
fications of voters
PURPOSE:
The bill proposes to amend the constitution to allow 17-year-old citi-
zens who will be 18 by the time of the general election to vote in the
corresponding primary election.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill proposes to amend section 1 of Article 2 of the State Constitu-
tion to grant voting eligibility in primary elections to citizens 'who
are 17 years old at the time of the primary election, provided they will
be 18 years old by the time of the general election associated with that
primary.
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York State Constitution limits voting eligibility to citizens
who are 18 years of age or older. This restriction prevents 17-year-old
citizens who will be eligible to vote in the general election from
participating in the primary election that determines the candidates for
that general election.
This constitutional amendment addresses the inconsistency by allowing
such individuals to vote in the primary election, ensuring that their
voices are heard throughout the entire electoral process. Currently,
twenty-one states and Washington, D.C. offer 17-year-olds the opportu-
nity to vote in primaries if they will turn 18 by the time of the gener-
al election. These states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North
Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia,
among others, as well as Washington, D.C. This approach has been widely
regarded as an effective way to engage younger voters early and foster
lifelong civic participation.
By adopting this amendment, New York State would join these states in
ensuring that young voters have a say in selecting candidates who will
appear on the general election ballot.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill in the Assembly.
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing be referred to the
first regular legislative session convening after the next 14 succeeding
general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with
section 1 of Article 19 of the Constitution, be published for 3 16
months previous to the time of such election.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6590
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC -- 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 the qualifications of voters
1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article
2 2 of the constitution shall be amended to read as follows:
3 Section 1. Every citizen shall be entitled to vote at every election
4 for all officers elected by the people and upon all questions submitted
5 to the vote of the people provided that such citizen is eighteen years
6 of age or over and shall have been a resident of this state, and of the
7 county, city, or village for thirty days next preceding an election;
8 provided, however, that a citizen who is seventeen years of age at the
9 time of a primary election and who will be eighteen years of age at the
10 time of the general election for which such primary election is held,
11 shall be eligible to vote in such primary election.
12 § 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing be referred
13 to the first regular legislative session convening after the next
14 succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conform-
15 ity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3
16 months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89058-01-5
