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Senate debates voting policy
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by Pedro Oliveira Jr.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
A Senate committee approved a bill Tuesday that would extend the right to vote to certain 17-year-olds.
If it passes, Senate Bill 6 will allow individuals who will turn 18 by the time of the next general election to vote in the primary elections.
The bill was presented by Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and co-sponsored by Rep. Terry Musser, D-Black River Falls.
Risser said the goal is to get young adults to vote and get involved in the political process.
"Many individuals under the age of 18 work, pay taxes and are affected by educational and other policy decisions," Risser said. "Allowing and encouraging those who will be 18 by the general election to vote in the primary election will give them a voice in the entire election cycle."
According to Risser, the bill would allow approximately 2,400 young adults to vote in the next primary elections.
Sen. Alan Lasee, R-De Pere, and Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, opposed the bill.
Lasee said 17-year-olds are children and should not be allowed to vote. He also added that the bill could provoke further lowering of the voting age.
"If this bill passes, the next move will be to drop the voting age to 16," Lasee said.
Grothman also told The Badger Herald 17-year-olds are too young to vote.
"[If] 17-year-olds are juveniles for the purpose of contracts, why would we consider them mature enough to vote?" Grothman said.
Grothman said there are other ways for 17-year-olds to get involved in the politics.
"If a 17-year-old wants to get involved in the process, they can always stuff envelopes or go door to door for candidates," Grothman said. "We need to draw a line somewhere, and the line has been drawn at 18 years old."
The Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs held a public hearing at the Capitol in which citizens had the chance to express their thoughts on the proposed bill.
During the hearing, Arthur Kohl-Riggs, Student Council President and senior at Madison West High School, said many of his classmates are very interested in the election process and are eager to be part of it.
"It's hard to gain interest on voting in the general elections once you've missed the primary elections," Kohl-Riggs said. "We discuss a number of social issues during classes and it would be a positive addition to the learning process to actually be part of the elections."
Similar laws have already been adopted by eight other states, and according to Risser, there have been no complaints. Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio and Virginia already allow soon-to-be 18-year-olds to vote in state primary elections.
The bill will be referred to the Senate and Assembly floors some time next week and, if passed, will be submitted for electoral approval at a statewide referendum. If ratified, it becomes law on Jan. 1, 2009.
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