Senate Leadership
May 1, 2008
Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution That Could Allow 17 Year-olds to Vote
Republicans back down (for now) against attempt to alter constitution and disenfranchise minority, low-income, elderly, and disabled voters
Just hours after State Senate President Donald Williams, Senator Gayle Slossberg, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, members of the Black and Latino caucus, and representatives from the AARP held a news conference to voice opposition to a Republican attempt to change the state constitution and require a photo ID to vote, Republicans opted against calling the amendment.
The Republican amendment requires voters to show a valid form of photo identification before they would be able to vote. If it passed Connecticut would have one of the most draconian restrictions on voting in the nation. Representatives from the AARP said at the early afternoon news conference that the elderly and disabled would be disenfranchised as a result.
Ultimately, the Republicans decided not to call the amendment and they did support the underlying bill--House Joint Resolution No. 21 which proposes an amendment to the state constitution to allow seventeen-year-old persons who will be eighteen years of age at the next regular election to vote in primaries related to such election.
"I am pleased that Republicans in the Senate backed away--for now--from their proposal to enact a barrier for people who want to vote," said Senator Williams. "Instead of having to fight back such a draconian amendment, the Senate was able to come together to unanimously approve a measure that could enfranchise 10,000 17-year-olds in Connecticut."
As a result of the Senate vote today, the following question will be presented on the ballot at this November's general election: "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit any person who will have attained the age of eighteen years on or before the day of a regular election to vote in the primary for such regular election?"
As for Republican attempts to call their photo ID amendment later in the legislative session, Senator Williams says he remains committed to ensuring it does not pass, "I am committed to fighting back any proposal that would make it more difficult for our seniors, disabled, and low-income citizens to vote."
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