ATLANTA — A Georgia state lawmaker wants to lower the voting age in the Peach State.
State Rep. El-Mahdi Holly, D-McDonough, introduced House Resolution 345 proposing an amendment to the state constitution that would lower the registration and voting age to 17 years old for federal, state and local elections.
Current state law requires citizens to be at least 17 and a half years old to register to vote and 18 years old to vote in all state and federal elections.
If adopted, the constitutional amendment will be placed on the statewide ballot as a referendum during the 2020 general election.
“17 year olds are underrepresented in policy decisions that affect them,” Holly said in a statement. “We want to increase young adult participation and give every legal adult in Georgia the right to vote.”
