CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE –Today the New Hampshire Senate passed HB 273, a bill to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th amendment, granting the right to vote to 18-21 year olds and celebrating youth voting and office holding. Following the vote, sponsor of the bill Representative Renny Cushing (D-Hampton), released the following statement:
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the last major expansion of the electorate in this country, the passage of the 26th amendment to the US Constitution which granted the right to vote to 18-21 year olds and in NH expanded the ability to hold office to 18-21 year olds.
As a young man in high school, I became involved in the Youth Franchise movement in New Hampshire. The first time I ever spoke at the well in the House was to testify in support of the constitutional amendment to lower the voting age. HB 273, passing the Senate in a bipartisan vote today, is an exciting celebration of the importance of the youth vote and the engagement of young people in our democracy across the state and in New Hampshire.
We know that our Democracy and the right to vote for many people is under attack both in our own state and across the country. It is important both on May 13th and every day forward to uplift the participation of all those eligible to vote in our Democracy.”