An effort to lower the voting age has been proposed by Democrats in the Oregon legislature.

House Bill 2679 is being considered by the super-majority Democrat state legislature, and is sponsored by the following politicians:

• Representative Dan Rayfield
• Representative Courtney Neron
• Representative Ricki Ruiz
• Representative Janeen Sollman
• Senator Michael Dembrow
• Senator Elizabeth Steiner-Hayward

The language of the bill declares to "permit persons who will be 17 years old on date of primary election and 18 years old on date of general election to vote at primary election for candidates of major political party with which person is affiliated if major political party has adopted rule to this effect."

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It also appropriates money from the Oregon General Fund to the Secretary of State for the purpose of printing and counting additional ballots.

Critics are noting that the bill may just be an incremental step in a larger plan to allow 16 year olds to eventually vote.

Additional language in the bill may "allow for an applicant not affiliated with any political party to request a ballot for a major political party. The applicant would then be sent the ballot for the political party that the applicant requested..."


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-01-23 17:28:00

Last Update: 2021-01-23 19:29:54