State Senate Committee passes bill that would affect voting age

The Senate Election Law and Internal Affairs Committee voted unanimously for a bill that would allow seventeen-year olds to vote in primaries.

The law would allow any seventeen-year old to vote in a primary, as long as they turn eighteen by the date of the general election.

State Senator Joe Foster (D-Nashua), a sponsor of the bill, said, "if we can get people engaged early, it could foster in them a desire to vote." He added, "if you don't vote at eighteen, you're lost."

Foster became aware of the issue after his daughter, Mikayla, discussed it with him. Mikayla Foster sits on the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, the group that is pushing the issue.

"If the 17-year-olds were able to vote in the primary, they'd be more interested and more informed about the candidates when the general election comes," she testified at the committee hearing.

Portsmouth Democratic State Representative Jim Splaine, who considered introducing a similar bill in the House, argued that younger voters bring a different perspective into the voting booth.

"I think there is no problem that anyone has determined -- and a 17 year old who will be turning 18 by the date of the General Election can indeed know as much or more than those of us over 50 -- without the bias and sometimes warped viewpoints that some of us older-folk bring to the ballot box!"

The bill is expected to pass the State Senate next Thursday, before being considered in the House.