HBA-JEK H.B. 672 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 672
By: Wilson
Elections
2/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The minimum voting age under current law is 18 years of age.  House Bill
672 lowers the minimum voting age to 14 years of age. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 672 amends the Election Code to lower the minimum voting age to
14 years of age.  The bill provides that a person who is at least 13 years
and 10 months of age is eligible to submit a registration application and a
person 14 years of age is eligible for registration.   

The bill prohibits a child's parent from accompanying a child under the age
of 18 to the voting station if that child is voting.  It also specifies
that a child under 18 years of age may only accompany the child's parent to
a voting station if the child is not registered to vote. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

The Act takes effect on the date the constitutional amendment lowering the
minimum voting age to 14 takes effect.