CA 17-year-olds to cast vote in primaries if legislation passes

Labor’s get out-the-vote organizing may begin even sooner.

A new proposal introduced in the California Legislature by assemblyman Kevin Mullin, a democrat of South San Francisco, would allow teens to cast their first ballot at age 17.  Teens who will be 18 by the time the general election arrives would be able to vote in the primary election, if this legislation passes.  Twenty states already allow such voters to participate in their primaries or caucuses.

“Most young people's first contact with politics is in their mandatory high school civics class; this is the perfect time to get them engaged and give them some ownership in the process by getting them to vote in primaries,” Mullin said in a statement.