WDET News
- MI Considers Voting at 16
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May 8, 2008Metro Desk
A State Senator from Macomb County wants to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.
10th District Senator Mickey Switalski is proposing an amendment to the state Constitution to that would allow 16-year-olds to vote… but only in school elections. The students would be authorized to vote for school board members… but they’d be forbidden from voting on bond proposals until they are 18.
Switalski considers his amendment similar to the restrictions the state puts on young motorists for two-years before they can drive alone.
“Giving them a little bit of responsibility is the best civics lesson we could possibility have. And I think it would shame their parents into taking the elections a more seriously. We’ve got less than ten-percent of them voting. They don’t want to be outvoted by their kids, than they are going to have to come out and set a good example.”
Switalski admits his plan is a bit audacious. But, if the Michigan Legislature approves his proposal, voters over 18 make a decision on the new underage voting rules in the November general election.