On Saturday, a bill by Reps. Christine Trujillo (D-Bernalillo) and Christina Ortez (D-Taos), H.B. 217, would make 16 and 17-year-olds “qualified electors” will be heard in New Mexico House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee.
The bill also notes that 17-year-olds would be allowed to vote in state primaries if they are 18 by the time the primary election is over. “For the purposes of a political primary, 17-year-olds may also currently vote if they will turn 18 on or before the general election immediately succeeding that primary election,” reads the fiscal impact report (FIR) for the bill, which implies that even in federal elections the minor could vote.
The FIR further notes that this move could likely increase Democrat voter turnout, according to Tufts University.
It reads, “[I]t should be noted Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life find that 63 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 nationally voted for democratic candidates in the House of Representative elections, so it is possible that allowing 16-year-olds to vote as provided for in HB217 could result in a disproportionate increase in turnout for democratic candidates. However, it is unclear whether this is because 16-year-old Democrats are more likely to turn out to vote or that 16-year-olds are more likely to be Democratic-leaning. Further, data does not indicate whether the turnout from youth voters (ages 18 to 29) effectively changed the results of prior elections.”
The committee will consider the bill on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in Room 317 of the state Capitol. To join the meeting via Zoom, the instructions are below:
Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88261854647 Or One tap mobile : US: +12532158782,,88261854647# or +13462487799,,88261854647# Webinar ID: 882 6185 4647 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kqF4xwnAY
Below, find the contact information for the members of the committee:
- Chair: D. Wonda Johnson (D). District 5 (McKinley & San Juan). Room 413D, 986-4236. Email: dwonda.johnson@nmlegis.gov
- Vice Chair: Natalie Figueroa (D). District 30 (Bernalillo). Room 203AN, 986-4255. Email: natalie.figueroa@nmlegis.gov
- Ranking Member: Martin R. Zamora (R). District 63 (Curry, DeBaca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt & San Miguel). Room 203EN, 986-4211. Email: martin.zamora@nmlegis.gov
- Member: Janelle Anyanonu (D). District 19 (Bernalillo). Room 203BN, . Email: Janelle.Anyanonu@nmlegis.gov
- Member: John Block (R). District 51 (Otero). Room 202B, 986-4220. Email: John.Block@nmlegis.gov
- Member: Gail Chasey (D). District 18 (Bernalillo). Room 134C, 986-4777. Email: gail@gailchasey.com
- Member: Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D). District 15 (Bernalillo). Room 312A, 986-4327. Email: dayan.hochman-vigil@nmlegis.gov
- Member: Charlotte Little (D). District 68 (Bernalillo). Room 203CN, 986-4254. Email: Charlotte.Little@nmlegis.gov
- Member: William “Bill” R. Rehm (R). District 31 (Bernalillo). Room 201B, 986-4214. Email: bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov
Just an attempt to stack the deck by Ds
Aaaahhh…. Todays youth. No education in civics nor history. Emotionally immature. Very maleable. Yes. Perfect to stack the deck for Dems.
GOOD GRIEF… NO ONE, past or present has enough maturity to make voting decisions at 16-17 years (barely do at 21). We are too selfishly emotional at that age. If voting to make NM children belong to the state with birth parents being only a caregiver, thereby making the parent a teenager’s slave – with the potential to send a parent to jail if the parent did not do as the child demanded sounded good to them, they’d vote for it. WHERE HAS COMMON SENSE GONE IN THIS STATE? The liberals know if they can pull in this vulnerable easy to indoctrinate segment of the population, the liberal-progressive politicians would RULE for life. We all need to beware and know who are jailer really is, children certainly do not know. FREEDOM IS SLIPPING AWAY.
You are SO RIGHT!
Absolute fact, Brenda! NM has lost its mind. There’s no justice or accountability & now, they want young puppets who drive their parents vehicles not knowing (or CARING) what the difference is between guilty & not guilty… (Just go watch a Traffic Court session: most will have mommy in the background, indignant, coaching them not to talk to the LEO or the prosecutor… asking the judge to throw it out because they’re about to turn 18 & they’re going to be voting… but they’re looking to the audience like it’s The Price Is Right for what guilty means. Saw it with my own eyes.. repeatedly.) An adult conservative’s Rights are irrelevant if they can manufacture a smother blanket of junior high mean girls bully support: YOUR Rights will never matter if you don’t exit their arena. ~ God be with those true conservatives in NM.. but y’all need to THINK: there IS life, & peace, & far better conditions OUTside NM.
You can’t keep running from this evil~eventually conservatives will be consolidated in a few states thinking they’re safe and warm and cozy~that’s what they’re angling for and then they will do something to blow you out of the water~How to get rid of the opposition 101. We need to stand up now in this state and legally fight for our rights!
I can feel the swirl of a giant toilet because that is where NM is going. Since the dems are in charge it continues to be a total snit show.
I can feel the swirl of a giant toilet because that is where NM is going. Since the dems are in charge it continues to be a total shit show.
I have met very few 16-17 year olds that I would consider mature enough to vote. To make a decision based on the merits of the bill. If all the Republicans had voted this last elections we would have had a better presence in Santa Fe. Complacency is why we lost.These bills that are being past reflect the craziness of the Democratic Party. I’m at a complete loss on how to make crazy stop. I’ll continue to pray for the second coming to wipe the slate clean.By the looks of our State and Nation it may be around the corner. God help us.
Sorry about the typos. These bills being passed is how it should read.
Just what we need. Why not let them carry guns, smoke pot, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes…..etc. What a pathetic bunch of losers in the demoncratic party. What a fine example you are to our kids and just to get votes for you sickos. God help.
I think we need to raise the voting age to 25. Children should NOT be running the State, the Nation, the Schools…this is just another ploy – along with Amnesty – to corrupt our Elections and destroy the Nation. Today’s youth – although having access to unlimited knowledge on the internet – are less ‘mature’ than any previous generation. They are ‘entitled, spoiled, brain-washed and self-absorbed…victims of the DemocRat Socialists who used to be known as ‘Democrats’.
DimmoKKKraps say ALL adults must lock up their guns and if any child (under 21) gets ahold of any of those weapons, by theft or careless action or neglect and someone is robbed or kidnapped or shot by the child THE ADULT IS GUILTY OF THE CRIME, WILL BE JAILED AND MADE TO PAY ANY DAMAGES, and the child will be pampered and set free when they turn 21.
DimmoKKKraps also say that children are mature enough, smart enough and have the judgement necessary to make good decisions – like voting?
REALLY? Kids can’t join the military or marry or drink or sign contracts without parental consent but they will be able to vote? We’re doomed.
Raise the age to buy guns because nobody is mature enough under 21 yet lower the voting age to 16 because they are mature enough to vote? You can’t have it both ways.
You can vote … but can’t serve in the Military, buy cigarettes, or porn. Yet you can vote. Another reason why this state is last in everything. That’s also why they want illegal immigrants to vote because most have no clue of the political environment and lean towards democrats