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

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Proposal to Lower Voting Age to 16

This bill proposes a change to the U.S. Constitution that would allow citizens who are at least 16 years old to vote.

What This Bill Does

• Repeals the current rule in the Constitution (the Twenty-sixth Amendment) regarding voting age.
• Sets a new rule stating people cannot be denied the right to vote because they are under 18 but over 15.
• Requires two-thirds of both the House and Senate to approve this proposal before sending it to states.
• Needs approval from three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years to become part of the Constitution.

Who It Names or Affects

• U.S. citizens who are between 16 and 17 years old.
• State governments that currently set voting age rules at 18 or older.
• The U.S. Congress, which would gain power to pass laws enforcing this new rule.

Terms To Know

Constitutional Amendment

A formal change added to the main law of the United States that requires special approval from Congress and most states.

Ratified

Officially approved by enough state governments so a new rule becomes part of the Constitution.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill has not yet been voted on by the full House or Senate.
• The change will not happen unless three-fourths of all states agree to it within seven years.

Official Summary Text

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to lower the minimum age for the right to vote from 18 to 16.

Current Bill Text

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 16 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th 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 9, 2025

Ms. Meng (for herself, Mr. Casten, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Pressley, Ms.
Schakowsky, Mr. Mullin, and Ms. Tlaib) submitted the following joint
resolution; which was referred 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 of the United
States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States
within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

``Article--

``Section 1. The twenty-sixth article of amendment to the
Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
``Section 2. The right of citizens of the United States, who are
sixteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or by any State on account of age.
``Section 3. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation.''.
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