HJ45 • 2026

Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, 16-year-olds permitted to vote.

<p class=ldtitle>Proposing an amendment to Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to qualifications of voters; sixteen-year-olds permitted to vote in local elections.</p>

Education Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Glass
Last action: 2026-01-30
Official status: Continued
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not explicitly state that it doesn't change citizenship requirements, but this is implied by existing voter qualifications.

Amending Virginia's Constitution to Allow 16-Year-Olds to Vote

This bill proposes changing Virginia's constitution to allow people who are at least 16 years old and meet other voter qualifications to register and vote in local elections.

What This Bill Does

Changes the age requirement for voting from 18 to 16 years old, but only for local elections.
Allows 16-year-olds who meet all other voter qualifications to register and vote in local elections.

Who It Names or Affects

People aged 16 and older who want to vote in local elections.
Local election officials responsible for voter registration and voting processes.

Terms To Know

Constitutional amendment: A change made to a country's or state’s main set of laws, called the constitution.
Local elections: Elections for positions like city council members and school board members.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only affects local elections, not statewide or federal elections.
This amendment needs approval from the General Assembly after the next election to become law.

Bill History

2026-01-30 Privileges and Elections
Continued to 2027 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote)
2026-01-28 Voting Rights
Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)
2026-01-26 Voting Rights
Assigned HPE sub: Voting Rights
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103350D
2026-01-14 Privileges and Elections
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; 16-year-olds permitted to vote.
Provides that, notwithstanding the requirement that a voter shall be 18 years of age, any person who is 16 years of age or older and is otherwise qualified to vote shall be permitted to register to vote and to vote in local elections.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Proposing an amendment to Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to qualifications of voters; sixteen-year-olds permitted to vote in local elections.

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby is, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:

Amend Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia as follows:

ARTICLE II

FRANCHISE AND OFFICERS

Section 1. Qualifications of voters.

In elections by the people, the qualifications of voters shall be as follows: Each voter shall be a citizen of the United States, shall be eighteen years of age, shall fulfill the residence requirements set forth in this section, and shall be registered to vote pursuant to this article. No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. As prescribed by law, no person adjudicated to be mentally incompetent shall be qualified to vote until his competency has been reestablished.

Notwithstanding the requirement that a voter shall be eighteen years of age, any person who is sixteen years of age or older and is otherwise qualified to vote shall be permitted to register to vote and to vote in local elections.

The residence requirements shall be that each voter shall be a resident of the Commonwealth and of the precinct where he votes. Residence, for all purposes of qualification to vote, requires both domicile and a place of abode. The General Assembly may provide for persons who are employed overseas, and their spouses and dependents residing with them, and who are qualified to vote except for relinquishing their place of abode in the Commonwealth while overseas, to vote in the Commonwealth subject to conditions and time limits defined by law. The General Assembly may provide for persons who are qualified to vote except for having moved their residence from one precinct to another within the Commonwealth to continue to vote in a former precinct subject to conditions and time limits defined by law. The General Assembly may also provide, in elections for President and Vice President of the United States, alternatives to registration for new residents of the Commonwealth.

Any person who will be qualified with respect to age to vote at the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also to vote in any intervening primary or special election.