Federal

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right to vote to citizens sixteen years of age or older.

Source: Congress.gov · 335 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow citizens who are sixteen years of age or older to vote. The amendment would need approval from two-thirds of both the Senate and House of Representatives, then ratification by three-fourths of the states within seven years to become part of the Constitution.

Who It Affects

Citizens of the United States who are sixteen years of age or older.

Key Provisions

* The current Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution would be repealed (Sec. 1) * Citizens who are sixteen years of age or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on their age (Sec. 2) * Congress has the power to pass laws to enforce this amendment (Sec. 3)

What Changes

The voting age requirement would change to allow sixteen-year-olds and older to vote. Currently, the Constitution sets voting age requirements, and those would be replaced by this new standard.

Important Definitions

None defined

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

IA 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 16 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right to vote to citizens sixteen years of age or older. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 11, 2023 Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. CASTEN, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. MOULTON, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. TLAIB, Mrs. TRAHAN, and Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ) submitted the following joint resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right to vote to citizens sixteen years of age or older. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 1 of the United States of America in Congress assembled 2 (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol- 3 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con- 4 stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 5 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 6 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:06 Jan 11, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ16.IH HJ16 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HJ 16 IH States within seven years after the date of its submission 1 for ratification: 2 ‘‘ARTICLE — 3 ‘‘SECTION 1. The twenty-sixth article of amendment 4 to the Constitution of the United States is hereby re- 5 pealed. 6 ‘‘SECTION 2. The right of citizens of the United 7 States, who are sixteen years of age or older, to vote shall 8 not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any 9 State on account of age. 10 ‘‘SECTION 3. The Congress shall have power to en- 11 force this article by appropriate legislation.’’. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:06 Jan 11, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HJ16.IH HJ16 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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