Final Draft
- 1 -
Amendment V
Lower Age Requirement for Members of the State Legislature
Amendment V proposes amending the Colorado Constitution to:
1
♦ lower the age requirement for serving in the state legislature from 25 to 21.
2
Summary and Analysis
3
Requirements for serving in the state legislature. The state constitution requires
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that a representative or senator in the state legislature be at least 25 years old, be a
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United States citizen, and reside in the district from which he or she is elected for at least
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12 months prior to being elected. Amendment V lowers the minimum age requirement
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to 21.
8
Comparison of state age requirements. Every state, with the exception of
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Vermont, has minimum age requirements ranging from 18 to 30 years old for members
10
of the state legislature. In Colorado, an individual must be at least 25 years old to
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become a state representative or state senator. Forty-three states set the minimum age
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requirement for state representatives at either 18 or 21. For state senators, about half of
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the states set the minimum age requirement between 25 and 30, and the other half set it
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at either age 18 or 21.
15
For information on those issue committees that support or oppose the
measures on the ballot at the November 6, 2018, election, go to the Colorado
Secretary of State's elections center web site hyperlink for ballot and initiative
information:
http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/InitiativesHome.html
Argument For
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1) Excluding 21- to 24-year-olds from seeking election to the state legislature is an
17
unnecessary restriction. A 21-year-old is considered an adult under the law.
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Voters can judge whether a candidate possesses the maturity, ability, and
19
competence to hold political office. In addition, allowing younger candidates to
20
run for office encourages the civic engagement of young people.
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Argument Against
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1) The current age requirement strikes an appropriate balance between youth and
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experience. Younger candidates may lack the maturity and expertise to be
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effective legislators. The policy decisions and political pressures that legislators
25
face are best handled by people with more life experience. Lack of experience
26
could hinder a young legislator's ability to represent his or her constituents
27
effectively.
28
Final Draft
- 2 -
Estimate of Fiscal Impact
1
This measure has no impact on state or local government revenue or spending.
2
Last Draft as Mailed to Interested Parties
- 1 -
Amendment V
Lower Age Requirement for Members of the State Legislature
Amendment V proposes amending the Colorado Constitution to:
1
♦ lower the age requirement for serving in the state legislature from 25 to 21.
2
Summary and Analysis
3
Requirements for serving in the state legislature. The state constitution requires
4
that a representative or senator in the state legislature be at least 25 years old, be a
5
United States citizen, and reside in the district from which he or she is elected for at least
6
12 months prior to being elected. Amendment V lowers the minimum age requirement
7
to 21. The existing age requirement has been in the state constitution since its adoption
8
in 1876.
9
Comparison of state age requirements. Every state, with the exception of
10
Vermont, has minimum age requirements ranging from 18 to 30 years old for members
11
of the state legislature. In Colorado, an individual must be at least 25 years old to
12
become a state representative or state senator. Forty-three states set the minimum age
13
requirement for state representatives at either 18 or 21. For state senators, about half of
14
the states set the minimum age requirement between 25 and 30, and the other half set it
15
at either age 18 or 21.
16
For information on those issue committees that support or oppose the
measures on the ballot at the November 6, 2018, election, go to the Colorado
Secretary of State's elections center web site hyperlink for ballot and initiative
information:
http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/InitiativesHome.html
Arguments For
17
1) Excluding 21- to 24-year-olds from seeking election to the state legislature is an
18
unnecessary restriction. A 21-year-old is considered an adult under the law.
19
Voters can judge whether a candidate possesses the maturity, ability, and
20
competence to hold political office. In addition, allowing younger candidates to
21
run for office encourages the civic engagement of young people.
22
Arguments Against
23
1) The current age requirement strikes an appropriate balance between youth and
24
experience. Younger candidates may lack the maturity and expertise to be
25
effective legislators. The policy decisions and political pressures that legislators
26
face are best handled by people with more life experience. Lack of experience
27
Last Draft as Mailed to Interested Parties
- 2 -
could hinder a young legislator's ability to represent his or her constituents
1
effectively.
2
Estimate of Fiscal Impact
3
This measure has no impact on state or local government revenue or spending.
4
Last Draft Comments from Interested Parties
B1B
Amendment V
Lower Age Requirement for Members of the State Legislature
Legislative Council Staff received no comments on the last draft mailed to interested persons.
Amendment V
Lower Age Requirement for Members of the State Legislature
Contact List
Douglas Bruce
Gerry Cummins
League of Women Voters of Colorado
Dorsa Djalilzadeh
Bell Policy Center
djalilzadeh@bellpolicy.org
Sherry Ellebracht
Regional Transportation District
Danielle Glover
Young Democrats of America
Karen Goldman
Colorado Municipal League
kgoldman@auroragov.org
Amanda Gonzalez
Colorado Common Cause
agonzalez@commoncause.org
Brent Kinman
House Minority Staff
brent.kinman@state.co.us
Lauren Lambert
Governor's Office
Kurtis Morrison
Governor's Office
kurtis.m[email protected]
Jan Rose
motor.mout[email protected]
Lee Stroud
Esther Van Mourik
Legislative Legal Services
1
Amendment V
Reduce Age Qualification for Members of the General Assembly
Ballot Title: Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning a reduction
1
in the age qualification for a member of the general assembly from twenty-five years to twenty-
2
one years?
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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-first General Assembly of the State of
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Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
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SECTION 1. At the election held on November 6, 2018, the secretary of state shall submit
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to the registered electors of the state the ballot title set forth in section 2 for the following
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amendment to the state constitution:
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In the constitution of the state of Colorado, amend section 4 of article V as follows:
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Section 4. Qualifications of members. No person shall be a representative or senator
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who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five TWENTY-ONE years, who shall not be a citizen
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of the United States, and who shall not for at least twelve months next preceding his OR HER
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election, have resided within the territory included in the limits of the district in which he OR SHE
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shall be chosen.
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SECTION 2. Each elector voting at the election may cast a vote either "Yes/For" or
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"No/Against" on the following ballot title: "Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado
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constitution concerning a reduction in the age qualification for a member of the general assembly
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from twenty-five years to twenty-one years?"
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SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40-123, Colorado Revised
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Statutes, if at least fifty-five percent of the electors voting on the ballot title vote "Yes/For", then
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the amendment will become part of the state constitution.
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