A proposed constitutional amendment that will lower the legal voting age in Iowa from 21 years old to 18 years old (to comply with federal law) and specify that only U.S. citizens will vote rather than every citizen, passed through a House subcommittee without any resistance.
In fact, The Iowa Standard was the only member of the public to attend the subcommittee.
Rep. Mary Wolfe (D-Clinton) offered no resistance to the bill either.
“As far as I can tell it just makes us consistent with federal law,” she said.
Rep. Steven Holt (R-Dension) chaired the subcommittee and said the amendment would change every citizen to only citizens, changes the age from 21 to 18, changes the word he to the citizen and also adds language about being able to vote in a primary if the voter will turn legal age by the general election.
Holt joined his Republican colleague, Rep. Dustin Hite (R-New Sharon), in supporting the bill.
Democrat Senators Claire Celsi (D-West Des Moines) and Tony Bisignano (D-Des Moines) shared concerns with the bill in committee. But, other than in the Senate subcommittee, nobody has voted against the bill. It was passed unanimously through the Senate State Government committee and breezed through a floor vote as well.
