Georgia lawmakers push to change voting age from 18 to 17

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - A small group of Georgia lawmakers want to drop the voting age in the state from 18 to 17.

State Representative El-Madhi Holly, D-Stockbridge, held a news conference Thursday about House Resolution 345.  Changing the voting age requires an amendment to the state Constitution, so the measure would put a referendum on the ballot to let Georgia voters decide.

"This is a referendum. Doesn't make it automatic that if you're 17 you automatically get to vote, no," explained Rep. Holly. "This is a conversation."

Holly and other supporters believe 17-year-olds should be able to vote because they are already treated as adults in other areas, including the judicial system.  They also argue that because many teenagers have jobs and pay income taxes that they should have a say in how those dollars are spent.

HR 345 has been assigned to the House Governmental Affairs Committee where it awaits a hearing.