Two state lawmakers introduced legislation that would lower the voting age to 16.
Rep. Yousef Rabhi and Sen. David Knezek introduced bills to the House and Senate in order to provide a larger civic engagement platform for the "increasing number of young people actively and aggressively participating in the political process," according to a release.
“Young people have earned and deserve a voice in our political process,” Sen. Knezek said. “As we’ve seen across the country, a diverse coalition of students have set aside partisan politics in an effort to bring about positive change within our political system."
The bills would lower the voting age from 18 years old to 16 years old in order to give teenagers an opportunity to head to the polls with their parents or guardians.
“If a 16-year-old can get behind the wheel and pay taxes from their paycheck, they are also mature enough to decide how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent,” Rep. Rabhi said. “Otherwise, it’s taxation without representation.”
