Primary voting age may be lowered

By Pete Nichols (Last updated: 08/28/09 6:31pm) More teenagers could get involved in the legislative process if a bill being considered in the Michigan House of Representatives is passed.

House Joint Resolution S, sponsored by Rep. Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, would allow 17-year-olds who would be 18 by the time of a general election, the chance to vote in a primary.

"Primaries determine the candidate, so it's important to voice their opinion and vote in the primary," Caul said. "In Michigan, we have low voter turnout in many areas. This would get more people involved in the voting process."

The legislation would generate more interest in the voting process among younger voters and encourage regular voting habits in the future, he said.

"I've run into high school students who've come to the Capitol who are very interested in the political process, and I would like to suggest this alternative to increase their interest and participation," Caul said.

Voter participation for young people tends to be to very low, Ingham County Clerk Mike Bryanton said.

"Their numbers are low given the size of their demographic in the overall population," Bryanton said.

Turnout is low among them because they feel disconnected from the process, he said.

This legislation could help change that feeling, said Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, who co-sponsored it.

"We found in East Lansing, before we eliminated the primary, that in the general election there were not individuals on the ballot the students had a say in choosing," he said. "This would be a positive first step because it would allow people who could vote in November anyway to vote and make sure they turned out for the November election."

The idea of allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries is not necessarily new, said Paul Abramson, an MSU political science professor and voter turnout expert. The idea was tossed around in the 2004 Democratic caucus, he said.

Abramson said he didn't think allowing younger voters to participate in the primaries would make much of a difference in participation.

"Typically, primary participation has been low and gets turnout among active and relatively interested people," he said. "Since very few 17-year-olds fall into that category, that wouldn't make a great deal of difference."

Mechanical engineering sophomore Ian Turkiewicz said had the bill been in place when he was 17, he would have voted.

"I'd be excited I could vote and wasn't able to before," he said. "It would be something new happening, so I might try it out."

If the bill is passed, high schools would have to educate students about the change in voting law so it's effective, Bryanton said.

"Election officials throughout the state could be in touch with superintendents and principals and inform young people of the new law and proposed change," he said.

Pete Nichols can be reached at nicho261@msu.edu.

Originally Published: 07/10/07 12:00am