March 9, 1971

The voting age has been 18 in Kentucky since 1955 (see part two of this report).

Louisiana

In 1968, the House defeated, 64 to 28 (6 short of the necessary 70) , a bill to lower the age to 20. As originally introduced the measure would have lowered the age to 18, but it was amended to age 20. (The Times-Picayune July 5, 1968,) I

Maine

In March 1963, as reported in the National Civic Review, the Maine Constitutional Commission recommended lowering the voting age to 20; the Legislature did not act on this rec o mmendation.

During the 1963 session, H.P. 431 (L. D. 636), a proposal to permit those 18 years old to vote if they passed an examination in u.s. history, government, and economy, was reported from committee with recommendation that it not pass. The report was a divided one but the House sustained the majority recommendation, as did the Senate. During the 1965 session, H.R. 433 (L. D. 562) , to lower the voting age to 18, was reported with recommendation that it not pass. The House accepted this report. It also upheld do-not-pass recommendations for H. P. 676 (L. D. 478), a 20-year-old voting amendment, and for H. P. 255 (L. D. 325), a 19-yearold voting amendment.

In the Senate in 1965 S. P. 153 (L. D . 394), a proposal to lower the voting age to 20 ( originally 18, but amended to 20), was passed 27-3 on May 20. In the House, S. P. 153, was defeated (yeas , 83, nays, 62) when it failed to obtain a required two-thirds approval on In a 1966 session , no proposals to lower the voting age were introduced.

In 1969, the legislature passed a 20-yearold amendment. The voters will render their verdict in 1970.

Maryland

In t he 1966 session, S. B. 78 and H. B. 133 were introduced to lower the voting age to 18. They died in committee. So did S. B. 184, an 18- y ear-old vote resolution introduced in the 1964 session. In 1965 , H. B. 232, a proposal to submit an 18-year-old vote amendment to referendum, died in committee. S. B. 48, to lower to 18, introduced in the 1965 session, was unfavorably reported from committee. That report was sustained in the Senate by a vote of 23-6.

The Constitution submitted in 1968 for the approval of Maryland voters included a provision for voting by persons 19 and older. It was defeated by the voters 283,050 for 366,575. In 1967, H. B. 164, to lower to 18, died in Committee. In 1969, a 19-year-old amendment was defeated in the House 73-61, after received initial approval 93-36. The Senate had earlier given its approval to 19-year-old voting 3Q-8 (March 6, 1969).

Massachusetts

A special report of the Legislative Research Council , prepared in 1968 under directive of S. No. 934 (1967), found that between 1943 and 1967, 91 measures to lower the voting age were introduced in the Massachusetts legislature: 86 to lower to 18, 3 to 19, and 2 to age 20.

"In some instances, the committee on Constitutional Law reported the bills favorably and one bill, Senate, No. 19 of 1955 , was ordered to a third reading by the joint legislative convention. However, none of "!'t.e bills were passed, and there did not appear to be any formidable support for these proposals prior to 1967 ."

In 1967, the General Court, in joint convention, approved House, No. 2537 , reducing the voting age to 19. That approval was confirmed again by the General Court in 1969. It will be submitted to the voters in 1970. If the voters approve, the age will be lowered to 19 , effective 1972.

(See above, the table of State action on voting age proposals for a recapitulation of the voting age bills introduced in Massachusetts.)

Michigan

In 1964, S. Res. 88, to create a special committee of five Senators to study the issue of a lower voting age and its ramifica­ 1965. tions, was adopted in the Senate. The House adopted a similar proposal that year, H. Res. · In 1965, the Senate adopted S. Res. 166, which continued the five-member committee to study the issue of a lower voting age. In 1966, however, the Senate did not act on S. Res. 319, a resolution to appoint an interim committee to study the legal ramifications of a lower voting age.

In the 1966 elections, the Michigan voters defeated a referendum to lower the voting age to 18 by a vote of 1,267,872 to 703,076.

Minnesota

In the 1965 legislative session, three 18- year-old vote proposals were introduced but died in committee. They were S.F. No. 793, H.F. No. 271, and H.F. 1397.

In 1967, five voting age proposals, S.F. 36 (18), S.F. 47 (18), S.F. 571 (19), S.F. 900 (18), and H.F. 56 (18), died 1n committee. In 1969, the legislature approved an amendment lowering the age to 19. This proposal will be on the ballot November 1970.

Mississippi

Legislative Journals for Mississippi indicate that no proposals to lower the voting age were introduced in the 1961, 1962, or 1966 sessions. These were the only Journals available.

Missouri

In 1961, H.J.R. 5 (H.J.R. 10), to lower the voting age to 18 , passed the House on February 28 by a vote of 84-52. It died in the Senate.

In 1965, H.J.R. 10, to lower the voting age to 18, was defeated in the House on March 10 by a vote of 54-104.

Montana

There is no record of action in the Legislature during the 1961 session.

The Senate approved a 19-year-old vote proposal in 1967 but it died in the House.

In 1969 approval was given to a 19-year-old amendment. The House approved the measure 84-17 and the Senate 46-7. It will be submitted to the voters in 1970.

Nebraska

The Journals for 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, and 1966 indicate that no proposals to lower the voting age were introduced in the unicameral Nebraska Legislature.

The Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report for April 7, 1967, reported that the 1967 session of the Legislature approved a 19- year-old voting age amendment which was submitted to the voters in a 1968 referendum. In 1968 the proposal to lower the voting age to 19 was defeated 246,672 to 255,051. The legislature in 1969 approved a 20-yearold vote amendment. This proposal will be submitted to the voters in 1970.

Nevada

No voting age resolutions were introduced in the 1961 or the 1963-64 sessions. In the 1965 session, S.J. R. 3, to lower the voting age to 18 (as recommended by Governor Grant Sawyer), was reported from committee without recommendation. It passed the Senate on March 31, 1965, by a vote of 11-6 (in Nevada a proposed amendment must receive approval in two consecutive legislatures and then be submitted to the voters). In the House, a floor amendment to change the age from 18 to 19 was defeated. The resolution was also defeated by a 12-17 vote.

Scholastic Teacher, May 2, 1969, reports that the Nevada legislature approved an 18- year-old voting age amendment. It must reapprove in 1971 to place the question on the 1972 ballot.

New Hampshire

No voting age resolutions were introduced in either the 1961 or 1963 sessions. In the 1965 session, C. R. 3, to lower the voting age to 18, was defeated in the House June 21, In 1967, H. C. R. 13, to lower to 18, was killed by the House on recommendation of the committee.

New Jersey

No voting age resolutions were introduced in the 1960, the 1962, the 1963, or the 1965 sessions. In 1961, A. C. R. 40 would have lowered the age to 20. It died in committee. In 1964, S. C. R. 7 proposed a referendum on lowering the voting age to 19. It died in committee.

In 1966, A. C. R. 9 (or 4), a 19-year-old amendment, died in the Senate (which probably means it passed the House) .

In 1969, the legislature approved an 18- year-old amendment. The vote in the Senate was 3G-O. We have no record of the vote in the Assembly. The voters rejected the proposal decisively in November 1969; yes, 788,- 978; No, 1,154,606.

New Mexico

Scholastic Teacher, May 2, 1969, reported that the New Mexico legislature was considering voting age proposals with a good probability of action before adjournment. However, no final action was taken.

New York

No action was taken on the following resolutions to lower the voting age to 18 introduced in the 1960 session of the legislature; (in the Assembly) 90, 1398, 2509, 3009, 3257; (in the Senate) 987, 1968. Also introduced in 1960 was a 19-year-old vote resolution ( 169 in the Assembly) on which no action was taken.

No action was taken on the following 18- year-old vote resolutions introduced in the 1961 session: (in the Assembly) 17, 362, 734, 1450, 1662, 1688, 1928, 2380, 2627, 4510; (in the Senate) 147, 1119. Nor was any action taken on a 19-year-old vote resolution (271) and a 20-year-old vote resolution (2402) introduced in the Assembly.

No action was taken in the 1962 session on the following 18-year-old vote resolutions: (in the Assembly) 158, 724, 1078, 1121, 1290, 1530, 1533, 2142, 2185, 2810, 3297; (in the Senate) 302, 819. Nor was action taken on a 19-year-old vote resolution ( 401 in the Assembly).

In 1963 no action was taken on the following 18-year-old vote resolutions introduced in the Assembly: 110, 217, 452, 664, 1956, 1970, 2063, 2116.

No action was taken on the following 18- year-old vote resolutions introduced in the 1964 session: (in the Assembly) 69, 265, 480, 882, 1326, 1646, 2759, 2831, 3058, 3261; (in the Senate) &31.

No action was taken on the following 18- year-old vote resolutions introduced in the Assembly in the 1965 session: 81, 414, 474, 1296, 1552, 1663, 2595, 3069.

The National Civic Review noted in its May 1966 issue that in February 1966 the Assembly approved a measure to lower the voting age to 18. The Senate Majority Leader announced, however, that the Senate would take no action on the resolution in view o! the Constitutional Convention to be held in 1967.

The issue of lowering the voting age was considered during the 1967 Constitutional Convention. On July 17, the Convention delegates defeated a proposed voting age of 19 by a 165-8 vote, and a proposed voting age of 20 by a voice vote. They then voted 102-76 to maintain the voting age at 21. On July 18, the delegates gave initial approval to a provision in the Constitution stipulating 21 as the voting age but authorizing the legislature to lower that to as low as 18. Once the age was lowered, it could not then be increased. The vote of approval was 95-83 . On September 7, 1967, the delegates gave final approval to this provision by a 139-30 vote after defeating an attempt to lower the voting age to 20 (97-60) and defeating an attempt to eliminate the Legislature's power to lower t he voting age (92-67).

The voters of New York, however, rejected the proposed Constitution at the November 1967 election by a. 3-1 margin.

The New York Times indicates that 18- year-old voting age amendments were killed by both House and Senate committees in 1969.

North Carolina

There were no voting age proposals introduced in the 1961 session of the legislature. In 1963 S.B. 57 and H . B. 107, to lower the voting age to 18, were introduced. H.B. 107 was reported unfavorably; no vote was taken on the report. S.B . 57 died in committee. No proposals were introduced in the 1965 session.

North Dakota

The April 7, 1967, Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report notes that the Legislature approved a 19-yea.r-old voting age amendment, which went to the voters in a September 1968 referendum. It was rejected, narrowly, 59,034 to 61,818.

Ohio

No action was taken during 1961 on proposals to lower the voting age to 18 ( S.J. R. 9, H.J. R. 6) or a proposal to lower to 19 (H.J. R. 17). S.J. R. 23, and 18-year-old vote resolution introduced in the 1963 session died in committee. The Ohio legislature passed a 19-yea.r-old vote amendment in 1969, which was rejected in November of that year by the voters, 1,274,334 against to 1,226,592 for.

Oklahoma

No proposals were introduced in the 1963 session to lower the voting age.

In 1965, S.J.R. 25, to lower to 19(?), was reported by committee but died on the calendar. In 1967, S.J.R. 12, to lower to 19, passed the Senate 35-7, March 7, 1967, but died in the House Committee. S.J.R. 10, to lower to 19 for members of the armed forces or veterans, died in committee.

Oregon

The April 1962 National Civic Review reported that the Oregon Constitutional Revision Commission, on February 23, 1962 , recommended retaining the 21-year-old voting No voting age proposals were introduced in the 1963 session. In 1965, H.J.R. 43 would have lowered the voting age to 18. It died in committee .

The Oregon Senate rejected an amendment to lower the voting age (presumably to 18) in 1967. As reported in the April 7, 1967, Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, the vote was 12-17.

The legislature passed a 19-year-old vote amendment in 1968. It goes to the voters in November, 1970.

Pennsylvania

In the 1963 session, S.B. 809 and H.B. 337, to lower the voting age to 18 , died in committee. The same fate awaited S.B. 6, and S.B. 11, 18-year-old vote resolutions introduced in 1964.

H.B. 72, an 18-ye a r-old vo t e proposal introduced in the 1965 session, was approved by the House , 149-55, on January 4, 1966. The Senate failed to take action on H.B. 72. S.B. 27 and S . B. 157, to lower to 18, were introduced in the Senate in 1965 but died in committee.

It was noted in the Congressional Record, vol. 115, pt. 6, p. 7894, that the Pennsylvania House had . passed a 19-year-old vote !bill and, earlier, that the Senate had passed an 18- year-old vote bill. The differing measures died in conference.

Rhode Island

A Constitutional Convent i on was held over to 18. a three-year period ( 1965-67) in Rhode Island. Newspaper reports do not indicate whether serious consideration was given to lowering the voting age . More than 200 proposals were submitted for consideration at the convening o! the Convention and it is possible that a lower voting age was among them . The final document as approved in September 1967 did not contain any provision pertaining to a lower voting age. ( Note: Due to neg a tive prospects for adoption of the new ch a r t er , it w as not submitted, as planned, to the voters . ers i n the 1967 fall elections. Plans now call for re c onvening the Conven ti on to make certa i n alterations in the document. There is no indication that any consideration might be given to debating a lower voting age.)

South Dakota

No voting age proposals were introduced during the 1961 , 1963, and 1964 sessions.

Tennessee

No voting age proposals were introduced in either the 1961 or 1963 sessions.

In 1967-68, S.J.R. 13, a voting age amendment, died in committee. In November 1968, the voters rejected a referendum proposal to allow the Constitutional Convention to consider lowering the voting age to 18 (236, 214 to 290, 922).

No voting age proposals were introduced during the 1961 or 1962 sessions. In 1963, H.J.R. 12, to lower the voting age to 18, was amended on the House floor to change the age limit to 19 but defeated ultimately by a. vote of 92-51. A vote of 100 is required in order for an amendment to pass the House.

Utah

No voting age proposals were introduced in either the 1961 or 1963 sessions.

Vermont

There is no record of any voting age proposals being introduced through 1966.

In 1967, H. 370, a b111 to provide that any attempt to lower the voting age to 18 in 1968 must be preceded by notification at town meetings, died in committee.

Virginia

During the 1966 session, S.J.R. 33 and H.J.R. 4, to lower the voting age to 18, died in committee. In 1968, S.J.R. 7, . to permit voting . by those 18 and older serving in the armed forces, and S.J.R. 45, to lower to 18, died in Senate committee. H.J.R. 59, to lower to 18, died in the House committee. In 1969, the Virginia legislature, after giving thought to permitting an 18-year-old amendment on the ballot, decided not to submit the question to the voters.

Washington

In 1961, S. J. R. 29, an 18-year-old vote resolution, was introduced but died in committee. The same fate occurred to S. J. R. 3 and H. J. R. 2, 18-year-old vote resolutions introduced in the 1963 session.

In 1965, H. J. R. 10, to lower to 19, was favorably reported from committee but did not come to a vote. H. J. R. 22, to lower to 19, died in committee. In 1967, H. J. R. 14 and H. J. R. 26, to lower to 18, died in committee. S. J. R. 15, to lower to 18, with floor amendment to make 18 the age of majority, was defeated 25-20, March 6, 1967.

West Virginia

H.B. 83, an 18-year-old resolution introduced in the 1963 session, died in committee.

Wisconsin

During the 1963 session, 435, A, an 18- year-old vote referendum proposal, was approved by the Assembly, April 17, 1963, by a 54-38 vote. The Senate refused to concur in the Assembly's action. The Senate postponed action on 116, S that same year. It proposed to revise the statutes to lower the voting age

Wyoming

Scholastic Teacher, May 2, 1969, reports that the Wyoming legislature passed a 19- year-old vote proposal. It will be submitted to the voters in 1970 and, if approved, become effective in 1972. The National Civic Review, April 1969 (p. 165) reports that the Wyoming Senate amended this 18-year-old proposal to deny the ballot to any male with long hair. This provision, however, was not retained.

PART II: S T ATE ACTION TO LOWER THE VOTING AGE, 1943-1960

(NoTE: This L.R.S. Report was reprinted in an Appendix to hearings held in 1961 on the nomination and election of the President and Vice President and on qualifications for voting. The full citation to the document iS given below.)

U.S. Cong., Senate. Comte. on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments. Nomination & Election of President and Vice President a.nd qualifications for voting. Appendix to hearings ... pt. 4, Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. 01!., 1961. p. 859-866. (The following is a study prepared by Walter Kravitz, Government and General Research Division, Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress, dated March 28, 1961.)

INTRODUCTION

Since the introduction in the 78th Congress, 1st session, of House Joint Resolution 89, calling for a constitutional amendment to extend the right to vote to citizens 18 years of age or older, at least 47 State governments have dealt with the ma.tter of lowering the voting age in one way or another. This report presents a State-by-State survey of such action, followed by a summary of the most important o: these.

The information has been compiled from a variety of sources. A completely thorough and exhaustive study would require examination of every State journal of the period under consideration. Few of these are available to us, and it would take many months to check those that are. We have, nevertheless, spot-checked some State journals when provided with specific leads from other sources.

Undoubtedly, we have caught only a fraction of the Instances In which bills were introduced only to die in committee. But we have Included, we believe, every major State action in this field, especially every instance in which the matter was put to a referendum. Except for West Virginia, specific age qualifications for voting are embodied by all Sta.tes In their constitutions; any change, therefore, requires a constitutional amendment. Wherever pertinent, the method of amendment is explained below.

Alabama

A constitutional amendment was introduced ln the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. We have no record of any action since 1943.

Alaska

The State entered the Union In 1959 under a constitution approved by a 2 to 1 majority of the voters on April 24, 1956. All citizens 19 years of age and older are entitled to vote.

Arizona

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature In 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died In committee. We have no record of any action since 1943.

Arkansas

A constitutional amendment was Introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower feated. the voting age to 18. In the same year, the lower house approved the resolution 84-68, but the senate voted it down, 37 to 15. We have no word of any action since 1943.

California

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. We have no record of any action since 1943.

Connecticut

Proposals to lower the voting age to 18 were Introduced In the legislature in 1955 and 1957. In both years the responsible house committee rejected the measures.

Delaware

In 1949 a biD to lower the voting age, H. B. 103, died In committee. In 1951 another house b111 was similarly handled, while a senate measure, S. B. 187 was favorably reported but not acted upon. In 1953 a proposal to amend the constitution by lowering the voting age to 18 was passed by the lower house, 3Q-1; the senate did not act. An Identical measure, S. B. 31, was passed by the senate by a vote of 16 to 1 in 1955 and received a 51 to 12 majority In the house, but the latter was less than the required constitutional majority and the bill failed. 1 West Virginia's constitution bars minors, the word being defined by statute.

Florida

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It was defeated. In 1951, five resolutions to the same effect were Introduced. One, H. J. R. 71, received the required three-fifths constitutional majority of the house, by a vote of 77 to 13, on April 18. On April 24 the measure failed in the senate 9-29. In 1953, three bills were Introduced; none gained committee approval.

S. J. R. 204, in the legislature of 1955, passed the constitutional test in the senate on April 26 by a vote of 26 to 10, and on the folowing day a reconsideration motion was defeated, 13-24. In the house the measure was approved by the committee and put on the calendar, but never came to a vote. Measures to lower the voting age introduced in 1957 and 1959 were either pigeon-holed or reported unfavorably.

Georgia

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It was passed by the senate on February 11, and by the house on March S. The electorate ratified the amendment on August 3, 1943, by a majority of better than 2 to 1: yes, 42,284; no, 19,682.

Hawaii

The State entered the Union in 1959 under the constitution of 1950, which lowered the voting age to 20.

Idaho

Measures to lower the voting age were introduced In both houses in 1951, and were defeated. In 1959 a proposal to amend the constitution so as to lower the voting age to 19 received the necessary vote of twothirds of all members of each of the two houses, voting separately. A referendum was accordingly held at the next general election, that of November 1960. The measure was defeated: yes, 113,594; no, 155,548.

Illinois

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. Similar resolutions were pigeon-holed in both houses in 1945, 1947, 1949, 1951, and 1953. In 1955 and 1957 resolutions were brought to the floor of the house, but both were de­

Indiana

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the vOting age to 18. It died In committee. Constitutional amendments must secure majorities in each house in two successive legislatures, plus a vote by the electorate, in order to succeed. A proposal to lower the voting age was passed by the legislature in 1945, but apparently failed in the next legislature. In 1953, a proposed amendment to give the vote to those 19 years of age and older was passed by both houses, but it was rejected by the 1955 legislature.

Iowa

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. Similar resolutions were pigeon-holed in 1949, 19&3, 1957, and 1959.

Kansas

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died In committee, as did similar measures in 1945, 1947, and 1949. In 1951, another resolution received the vote of a majority in one house, 69-50, but failed to get the required two-thirds vote. In the 1953, 1955, 1957, and 1959 legislatures other resolutions were introduced; none went beyond a second reading.

Kentucky

An amendment to lower the voting age was introduced in the legislature 1n 1946 but was never reported out of committee, In 1948, 1950, and 1952, similar proposals were released by the committees only to die or be defeated on the floor. In 1954 the legislature approved, by the required three-fifths of the members elected to each house, a proposal to submit to the voters a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18. The referendum took place on November 9, 1955, and the amendment passed, by a 2 to 1 margin (192,838 to 107,650).

Louisiana

A proposal to lower the voting age was introduced in the legislature as H. 8 in 1946. It was favorably reported from committee but, on June 21, failed in a floor vote, 32-39. Of three similar measures introduced 1n the same session, two died In committee and the other was buried in the calendar. In 1948, a proposal to amend the constitution to lower the voting age to 18, H. 101, was reported favorably on June 3, and received a majority vote of the house, 48-39, on June 7. The State constitution, however, requires a constitutional two-thirds vote for amendments, so the measure failed, In 1950 H. 739, and in 1952 S. 27, both proposing a lowering of the voting age to 18, died either 1n committee or on the calendar.

Maine

Proposals for a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 were introduced to the legislature in 1943, 1945, 1947, 1951, and 1953. No action was taken on any of them. In 1957, a similar measure was unfavorably reported by the committee and the house upheld the report, 77-34, on April 26.

Maryland

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee A similar proposal died in the house of delegates in 1953. In the following year, 1954, the same measure managed to reach the senate floor, where it was defeated by a vote of 14-14. The State's constitution requires a favorable three-fifths vote of all members of each house to place a proposal on the ballot. In 1957 another attempt to lower the voting age was smothered in committee, despite the support of Governor McKeldln. In 1959 the proposal was reintroduced and, on March · 6, was approved by the senate judicial proceedings committee. Three days la.ter, in a test vote, the senate gave the b111 a 16-11 majority, but on March 11 it reversed itself and defeated the measure, 13-14. A similar proposal was denied clearance, during the same year, by the house judiciary committee.

Massachusetts

A constitutional amendment was introduced ln the general court in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. Similar proposals were reported favorably but did not come to the floor vote in 1951, failed in committee in 1952, and were again reported favorably but did not come to the floor in 1953.

In his annual message of January 6, 1954, Gov. Christian Herter endorsed the move to amend the constitution to extend the vote to 18-year-olds. In the same year the proposal reached the floor of the senate, but was defeated. In 1955, a similar measure was taken as far as the joint session of the general court, only to fail. In 1956 the State's Governor again recommended lowering the voting age and the matter was again taken as far as a joint session, where it was defeated. In 1958 there was a favorable committee report, but no further action. In 1959 the joint session of the general court again rejected the proposal.

Michigan

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It was defeated. In 1953 four measures were introduced; all died in committee In 1954, H. J. R. "B," a proposal to lower the voting age to 19. was reported !favorably. On the floor the resolution received a 54-38 majority, but failed for lack of the required constitutional two-thirds. Measures introduced in 1955, 1937, and 1959 all died in committee.

Minnesota

Constitutional amendments to lower the voting age to 18 were introduced in the legislature in 1943, 1947, and 1949. They were all either defeated or pigeon-holed in committee. In 1953, a similar measure was put to a vote in the house, on March 3. The vote was 63 to 62 in favor, but the measure was nevertheless lost because it did not receive a majority vote of the total house membership. In the same year, a similar senate proposal died in committee.

Mississippi

In 1953 one senate and two house proposals to amend the constitution so as to lower the voting age died in committee. One house resolution was reported, but was not brought up for a vote. On March 4, 1954, the senate rejected a measure designed to lower the voting age to 18.

Missouri

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. We have no record of any action since 1943.

Montana

In 1951, S. 96, a proposal to lower the voting age, was defeated in the senate by a vote of 22 to 26. In 1957, H.B. 41, which proposed lowering the voting age to 18, passed the house 72 to 19, but was rejected by the senate.

Nebraska

Two proposals were introduced in the legislature in 1943 to amend the constitution so as to lower the voting age to 18, L.B. 345 and L.B. 382. Both were lost by postponement. In 1945, a similar measure, L.B. 129, was postponed by a vote of 28 to 10. In 1953, L.B. 201, another proposal, failed to get on the general file. In the 1957 session, L.B. 27, to lower the voting age to 18, died in committee.

Nevada

A joint resolution was introduced in the assembly in 1953 to lower the voting age. It passed that body by a vote of 25 to 18. In the senate the proposal died in committee.

New Hampshire

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. A similar proposal, S. 6, was defeated in the Senate in 1951.

New Jersey

A constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 was introduced in the legislature in 1943. It died on the calendar. In 1953, a similar measure, Con. Res. 6, died in committee. In his annual message to the legislature in 1955, Governor Meyner urged that the voting age be lowered to 18. we have no record of any legislative action.

New York

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It was favorably reported and approved by the assembly, 77-59, but the senate failed to vote on the measure. In 1953 a. similar proposal, s. 453, was defeated in the senate. The New York Times, on January 21, 1954, reported that Governor Dewey, at a news conference, expressed doubt about the advisability of lowering the voting age. In 1957, Governor Harriman urged the legislature to lower the voting age to 18. A proposal to lower it to 19 was introduced in the legislature but received no action. Governor Harriman repeated his recommendation in his 1958 annual message, without result.

North Carolina

The senate defeated a bill to lower the voting age by a vote of 15 to 30 in 1951. we have no record of any other legislative action.

North Dakota

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. In 1953 a similar proposal was defeated.

Ohio

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. The Congressional Digest, in its March 1954 issue, page 72, state that "several measures have been defeated on the floor during the past 19 years." In 1958, two proposals to lower the voting age to 18 died in committee, one in each house. In 1959, according to the New York Times, June 12, 1959, the house passed a resolution to lower the voting age to 18, and sent the measure to the senate. Apparently the latter body never acted on the proposal.

Oklahoma

A constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 was introduced in the legislature in 1943. It died in committee. The 1951 session of the legislature passed H. J. R. 9, to amend the constitution to lower the voting age to 18, by the necessary constitutional majorities, and the proposal was put to a referendum in November 1952. It was overwhelmingly defeated: no, 639,224; yes, 233,094. No proposals to lower the voting age have been submitted in the legislature since 1952.

Oregon

A constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 was introduced in the legislature as H. J. R. 1 in 1943. It died in committee. A similar measure, H. J. R. 7, suffered the same fate in 1953. In 1955, a. senateinitiated resolution, S. J. R. 1, passed the senate on March 24 by a vote of 21 to 9, but the measure died in the house committee. Two resolutions in 1957 and one in 1959, all designed to lower the voting age to 18 or 19, were pigeonholed in committee.

Pennsylvania

A constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 was introduced in the legislature in 1943. It died in committee. According to the Congressional Digest of March 1954, page 72, two bills to lower the voting age, s. 1, and H. 8, died in 1953, "as have other earlier measures since 1943." On May 24, 1957, the house of representatives approved, by a vote of 159 to 1, a measure to reduce the voting age to 18. The senate had previously passed the bill unanimously. Under the State's constitution, passage by the next legislature was required before the matter could be put to a referendum. Apparently the 1959 legislature did not take the necessary affirmative action.

Rhode Island

A measure to lower the voting age was defeated in the legislature in 1953. We have no record of any other action.

South Carolina

In 1953 the legislature rejected a proposal to lower the voting age. In his 1954 annual message to the legislature, Governor Byrnes recommended that the State constitution be amended to give 18-year-olds the vote. We have no record of any other legislative action.

South Dakota

This State is unique in having twice rejected by referendum proposals to lower the voting age to 18. A measure passed by the legislature in 1951 was submitted to the voters in 1952. It lost by 685 votes: no, 128,- 916; yes, 128,231. The legislature rejected a similar amendment in 1954, but in 1957 it again chose to put the question to the electorate. On November 5, 1958, the proposal was decisively defeated: no, 137,942; yes, 71,033.

Tennessee

In 1957 the legislature acted favorably upon a resolution to submit to the people a proposed amendment to the constitution to lower the voting age to 18. The State's amending process requires that two successive legislatures approve a measure before submission to a referendum. In 1959, instead of reapproving the 1957 proposal, the legislature called a constitutional convention to consider, as one of its four topics, the lowering of the voting age to 18. The convention met in Nashville on July 21. On July 30 the convention voted, 6~33, to leave the constitutional age provision unchanged. It also voted, 58-35, against reducing the minimum to 18, and rejected two proposals to reduce the vote age to 20.

Texas

A constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature in 1943 to lower the voting age to 18. It died in committee. A similar bill was similarly treated in 1945. In 1949 H.J.R. 6 was favorably reported by the committee, but was then recommitted by the house. We have no record of any other legislative action.

Utah

In 1943 and 1953 constitutional amendments were introduced in the legislature to lower the voting age to 18. All died in committee. In 1955, a similar resolution, H.J.R. 3, was passed by the house, 4~18, but was rejected by the senate committee. In 1959, another proposal, S.J.R. 6, was similarly disposed of by the senate committee.

Virginia

Proposals to amend the constitution so as to lower the voting age to 18 were introduced in the legislatures in 1954, 1956, and 1958. All died in committee.

Washington

Two proposals to amend the constitution so as to lower the voting age to 18 were introduced in the legislature in 1943-H. J. R. 9 and S. J. R. 6. Both died in committee. In 1945, as H. J. R. 2, the proposal was favorably reported and, on February 23, received a majority vote, 49 to 48, in the house. Since this fell far short of the required constitutional two-thirds vote, the measure was lost. Similar measures died in committee in the legislative sessions in 1947, 1949, and 1953. In 1955, another proposal to lower the minimum to 18, H. J. R. 3, was recommended by the committee and passed the house with the required constitutional vote, 71 to 28, on February 15. In the senate the measure was pigeonholed in committee and a motion to discharge the committee and put the resolution on the calender lost 28 to 18, on March 8. In 1957, three resolutions were introduced: H. J. R. 3, and S. J. R. 3 lower the minimum to 18 and S. J. R. 27 to lower it to 19. H. J. R. 3 was twice reported favorably by the committee but the proposal was never brought to the floor. In the 1959 session each house received a resolution and in each the resolutions died in oommittee.

West Virginia

Constitutional amendments to lower the voting age to 18 were introduced in the legislature 1n 1943, 1945, 1951, and 1953. In the first three sessions the measures died in committee, In 1951, on March 6, an attempt to discharge the committee in the house failed, 40 to 48. In 1953 the house committee reported favorably, but no further action was taken. We have no record of legislative action after 1953.

Wisconsin

A constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 was introduced in the legislature in 1943. It was adopted by the assembly as J. R. 30 by a vote of 55 to 29, but failed to gain clearance from the senate committee. In 1945, a similar resolution was rejected by the assembly committee. In 1947, under the designation Jt. Res. 18A, the proposal to lower the voting age passed through an intricate maze of parliamentary maneuvers ending in a 48-44 vote to pass. The majority not being a constitutional one, the measure failed. In 1951 an 18-year-old voting age proposal was rejected by a senate committee, and in 1953 an assembly measure to lower the limit to 19 was unfavorably reported.

Wyoming

In 1951, Gov. Frank A. Barrett asked the legislature to lower the minimum voting age to 18. A measure was introduced and defeated. We have no record of any other legislative action.

SUMMARY

Table I lists the five States in which the question of lowering the voting age has been put to the electorate. In two, Georgia and Kentucky, the question was approved. In three, Idaho, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, it was defeated.

Table II lists the 14 States in which, in addition to those in Table I, at least one house of the legislature has approved a proposal to lower the voting age by the required constitutional majority.

TABLE I.-REFERENDUM RESULTS

State Age Year Result

Georgia ___ ---------- __ ----- 18 1943 Adopted. Idaho __ ._. _______ -- __ --.-- 19 1960 Defeated. Kentucky. ________________ • 18 1955 Adopted. Oklahoma _________________ • 18 1952 Defeated. South Do Dakota ____________________ _______________ 18 1952 Do.

18 1958 Do.

TABLE 11.-STATES IN WHICH AT LEAST A SINGLE HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE HAS VOTED AFFIRMATIVELY

State Age Year Action

Arkansas ______ 18 1943 Passed in house; defeated in senate.

Delaware ____ ._ { 18 1953 Passed in house. 18 19!15 Passed in senate; lacked constitutional majority in house. Florida ________ { 18 1951 Passed in house; defeated in senate.

18 1955 Passed in senate.

Indiana--------{ 18 194!1 Passed both houses; failed in next legislature.

19 1953 Do.

Montana ______ • 18 1957 Passed in house; defeated in senate.

Nevada ________ 18 1953 Passed in house. New York ______ 18 1943 Passed in assembly. Ohio __________ 18 1959 Passed in house. Oregon ________ 18 1955 Passed in senate. Pennsylvania ___ 18 1957 Passed both houses; failed in next legislature.

Tennessee _____ 18 1957 Passed both houses; failed in constitutional convention.

Utah __________ 18 1955 Passed in house. Washington & 18 1955 Do. Wisconsin ______ 18 1943 Passed in assembly.

SOURCES

Journals and calendars

Alabama: Journals. California: Journals. Connecticut: Journals. Delaware: Journals. Florida: Journals. Indiana: Journals. Illinois: Journals. Iowa: Journals.

Kansas: Journals. Kentucky: Journals. Louisiana: Calendars. Maine: Legislative Record. Maryland: Journals. Massachusetts: Journals. Michigan: Journals. Minnesota: Journals. Montana: Journals. Nebraska: Journals. Nevada: Journals. New Jersey: Minutes. New York: Journals. Ohio: Journals. Oklahoma: Journals. Oregon: Journals. Texas: Journals. Utah: Journals. Virginia: Journals. Washington: Journals. West Virginia: Journals. Wisconsin: Journals.

Other sources

Arnall, Ellis. Admitting youth to citizenship. State government, Oct. 1943: 203-204.

Book of the States. 1941-42 to 1960-61.

Kellock, Harold. Voting in 1944. Editorial research reports, Aug. 6, 1943: 87-88.

Lincoln, Gould. The political mill. Washington Evening Star, July 10, 1943: 7.

New York Times. 1943-1961.

Packman, Martin. Eighteen-year-old and soldier voting. Editorial research reports, Feb. 24, 1954: 143-159.

The question of lowering the voting age to 18. Congressional digest, March, 1954: 71-72. State Government. 1943-1961.

State Government news. July 1958-Feb. 1961.

U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Granting citizens who have attained the age of eighteen the right to vote. Hearings • • • June 2 and July 13, 1953. U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1953. 19 p.

---. Library of Congress. State Law index. 1943-44 to 1947-48.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. CoTTON). The question is on agreeing to the first committee amendment.

SENATOR RANDOLPH URGES PROMPT PASSAGE

OF SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 7--cONSTI •