BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



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          Date of Hearing:  May 13, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          ACA  
          2 (Mullin) - As Introduced February 24, 2015


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          Urgency:      State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This measure proposes to amend the State Constitution to allow a  
          citizen who is 17-years-old, but will be 18 at the time of the  
          next general election, to register and vote in that election and  
          any intervening primary or special election.








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          FISCAL EFFECT:


          1)One-time General Fund costs of about $220,000 to include an  
            analysis of the measure, and arguments for and against the  
            measure, in the statewide voter pamphlet.

          2)County election officials would incur minor one-time costs to  
            reprogram computer systems. Statewide costs would probably be  
            in the range of $100,000.
          


          COMMENTS:


          1)Purpose. According to the author, "Young voters have the  
            lowest turnout rate of any age demographic in California. For  
            most young adults, their first contact with the political  
            process is in high school through the mandated government  
            class during their senior year or through volunteering on  
            campaigns for community service credit.  This is the time to  
            give them ownership in the process by getting them to vote in  
            primaries while they still have a connection to their school  
            and community."


          2)Other States. According to information provided by the  
            author's office, the following states have enacted legislation  
            or passed initiatives to allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary  
            elections: Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana,  
            Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi,  
            Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont,  
            Virginia and Washington.

          3)Prior Legislation. AB 30 (Price), Chapter 364, Statutes of  
            2009, allows a person who is 17 years of age to pre-register  








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            to vote, provided he or she would otherwise meet all  
            eligibility requirements. 



            SB 113 (Jackson), Chapter 619, Statutes of 2014, expands  
            pre-registration by authorizing a 16-year-old to pre-register  
            to vote once pre-registration is in effect, provided he or she  
            meets all other eligibility requirements. 





            ACA 7 (Mullin) of 2013, which was substantially similar to  
            this measure, was held on this committee's Suspense file.  





            ACA 2 (Furutani) of 2009, was substantially similar to this  
            measure.  No vote was taken on the Assembly Floor and the  
            measure died on the Inactive File. 





            ACA 17 (Mullin) of 2005 and ACA 25 (Mullin) of 2004, were both  
            substantially similar to this measure.  For ACA 17 no vote was  
            taken on the Assembly Floor and ACA 25 failed passage on the  
            Assembly Floor.  


          Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081










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