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SF 2549

Constitutional amendment allowing political subdivisions to lower the voting age to 16 for elections

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sandy Pappas

Summary of SF 2549: Constitutional Amendment to Allow 16-Year-Old Voting OverviewSF 2549 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow political subdivisions, such as cou

Referred to Elections
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Bill Summary · SF 2549

Summary of SF 2549: Constitutional Amendment to Allow 16-Year-Old Voting

Overview

SF 2549 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow political subdivisions, such as counties or municipalities, to lower the voting age to 16 for their local elections. If passed, this would give individual regions the option to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-old residents for elections within their jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the state constitution to permit political subdivisions to set the voting age lower than 18 for their own elections
  • Gives local governments the choice and authority to lower the voting age to 16 if they choose to do so
  • Applies to all elections held by political subdivisions, including mayoral, city council, school board, and other local races
  • Does not change the statewide voting age of 18 for state-level and federal elections

Potential Impact

  • Could increase youth civic engagement and political participation at the local level if adopted by some regions
  • May face opposition from those who believe the voting age should remain 18 statewide
  • Could create a patchwork of different voting ages across the state, depending on local policies
  • Passage would require approval by a majority of voters in a statewide referendum, in addition to the state legislature

Procedural Details

  • Referred to the Senate Elections Committee on March 13, 2025
  • Companion bill HF 2003 has been introduced in the state House of Representatives
  • If passed by the legislature, the proposed amendment would be placed on the next general election ballot for voters to approve or reject

Overall, SF 2549 represents an effort to give local communities more flexibility in setting their own voting age policies, potentially expanding political rights for 16- and 17-year-olds in certain regions of the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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