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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 23, 2016 12:12 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tim Briggs |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Voter Preregistration at Age 16 |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation allowing for preregistration to vote at age 16. Although voter ID often gets more attention, voter registration remains the single greatest barrier to participation in American democracy. Approximately 50 million eligible Americans are not able to participate in elections because they are not registered to vote. The central goal of preregistration is to encourage voting among young people, the group that consistently has the lowest turnout rates. Under my legislation a person who is otherwise qualified and is at least 16 may preregister with satisfactory proof of age. When the person reaches an age at which the person will be 18 years of age by the date of the next election, the SURE system will automatically register the person so that they may vote in that election. While citizens must take the responsibility to get out and actually vote, government should do its part by clearing bureaucratic hurdles to doing so. It is our duty to reduce the burden on individual voters and ensure that all eligible citizens are registered. I ask that you please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2263