[From the Wheeling Intelligencer, Feb. 12, 1970]

GROWN UP

GIVING BALLOT TO 18-YEAR-OLDS MIGHT ADD TO STABILITY

Committee hearings are scheduled to open on February 16 on a proposed Constitutional Amendment which would lower the voting age in national elections from 21 to 18 years.

West Virginia's Senator Randolph, chief sponsor of the proposal, says he believes he has the necessary votes to pass it. This would seem to be a safe assumption inasmuch as the Senator has 67 co-sponsors back of him.

Here is one proposition which, it would seem, should receive prompt congressional approval-not in reaction to the popular chant to the effect that if a man is old enough to fight at 18 he is old enough to vote, but in recognition of the fact that, insofar as years are concerned, today's young men and women are sufficiently mature at age 18 to function as full-fledged citizens.

There is nothing magic about age 21 as the dividing line between childhood and adulthood. Any voting age is arbitrary and at best can be determined for practicable political purposes only by observation. But if 21 looked like a likely point of departure at the time it was adopted originally, the case for 18 years is equally valid today. Assuredly today's average 18-year-old is better informed and better equipped intellectually, if not emotionally, to assume the full duties of citizenship than his grandfather was at the same age.

Adding the votes of 18-year-olds to the election tally probably wouldn't alter election results, but it should tend to impress more of these young people with a sense of responsibility.

[From the Martinsburg Journal, Aug. 16, 1969]

18-YEAR-OLD VOTE NEEDED

Senator Jennings Randolph is pushing a measure which would ultimately result in granting voting privileges to all persons 18 years of age and older throughout the nation.

A recent report states he now has some 70 members of the Senate in support of a resolution which, if passed, would officially propose a constitutional amendment to this effect.

We are all in favor of granting the vote to these young people. The argument has long been that if they are old enough to be required to bear arms for their country, they are old enough to vote.

This, of course, is true but it goes much deeper than that. Today's person of 18 is usually more mature and better educated than the young person of 21 of a generation or so ago.

Our system of education has been advanced to the point that the 18-year-old has a better idea of local, national and world affairs than his father or grandfather had at 21.

The right to vote is also a responsibility and the youth of today is clamoring for "more of the action." Granting him the franchise would certainly be one of the most effective methods of cutting him in on helping to run the world.

Senator RANDOLPH. Mr. Chairman, as I talk about the voting age of 21, and the urgent need to lower it to 18, I read briefly from an editorial in the Intelligencer, the morning newspaper published in Wheeling, W. Va. This editorial appeared in the issue of February 12. It is entitled "Grown Up, Giving Ballot to 18-Year-Olds Might Add To Stability." I quote:

There is nothing magic about age 21 as the dividing line between childhood and adulthood. Any voting age is arbitrary and at best can be determined for practicable political purposes only by observation. But, if 21 looked like a likely point of departure at the time it was adopted originally, the case for 18 years is equally valid today. Assuredly today's average 18 year-old is better informed and better equipped intellectually, if not emotionally, to assume the full duties of citizenship than his grandfather was at the same age."

Adding to the quote, these 18-year-olds will probably not change the tally of election results, but I ask you to listen to these words: "But it should tend to impress more of these young people with a sense of responsibility." I believe the editorial is correct.

America is a changing society. It certainly is not static. Our progress justifies the change that I advocate earnestly here this morning. America today is on the move by means of surface travel and by air. We are a mobile society. World happenings and activities are at our fingertips in seconds through radio and television and the news media. We have immediate communication with friends, neighbors, business associates and family by the telephone and other means. This is a changed and challenging country and world. The young people are aware of the world around them and are familiar with the issues that are before the President, Members of the Congress, and other government officials. In many cases I think they have a clear view because it has not become clouded through time and involvement. They can be likened to outside consultants called in, Mr. Chairman, to take a fresh look. But even more than to take a fresh look, to participate with this franchise which is not just a ballot, but is a franchise of freedom. I think that 18 is the logical voting age in America. It signals the end and the beginning of many tasks. It is the completion of what we know as the formal educational process for millions of young people. There is logic for 18-year-olds voting.

There is no disputing the statement that America is her people. We are only as powerful and as progressive and as purposeful as we make ourselves. The youth of America I think are doing their share, and we can be proud of their accomplishments.

Most political campaigns, as you gentlemen know, could not get off the ground perhaps as strongly as they do today without the support and help in man-hours of youth.

Summer camps and Federal and State recreation areas would not be able to function in a manner responding to the demands of Americans without the input of youth during these summer weeks. What of VISTA? What of the Peace Corps? What of other programs and projects in which our young people have been involved as effective participants?

Mr. Chairman, as I conclude I call your attention to two very significant studies. The first was the 22 Member House Task Force headed by Representative William Brock, 3d, of Tennessee, which conducted a study and survey of the situation on college campuses of America. Among the recommendations these 22 Members made to the President of the United States, was one that advocated that the voting age be lowered to 18. The report strongly recommends lowering the voting age to permit

active involvement in the political process which can constructively focus youthful idealism on the most effective means of change in a free society.

Mr. Chairman, the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, on which one of today's witnesses, Dr. W. Walter Menninger, served, has recommended that the voting age be lowered to 18 through constitutional amendment.

State activity continues to increase on this subject. Ten States will have referendums on this proposal in the fall. Two legislatures have approved it once, but have the consecutive sessions rule.

To await individual action by 48 State legislatures and 48 referendums is too slow a process. Mr. Chairman, and Senator Cook, it was too slow a process when we had the amendment giving women in this country the right and the responsibility of the franchise. Only 19 States over the period of our history had given women the right to vote when we had the constitutional amendment presented to the States by the action of the Congress. Mr. Chairman, it was then about 15 months until a sufficient number of States ratified that constitutional amendment and it was proclaimed by the Secretary of State.

Several Senators have expressed support for the lower voting age but feel that such a change is the prerogative of the states. But a Member of the Senate can vote for such a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18 on the theory that the Congress is referring this matter to the States. Congress is, in a sense, giving the impetus to the States to act either affirmatively or to deny the validity of the proposal.

It is my belief that action by the Congress would place this matter four square before the States. Then they could take immediate action either to accept or reject this amendment. I feel that it would be adopted.

In our 193-year history we have worked to expand the base of the democratic processes in our country. I think full participation is the ideal for which men, and women have been striving through the years. We accomplished this, as you have mentioned Mr. Chairman, by giving women the right and responsibility to vote. We have accomplished it as Senator Cook well knows in eliminating the poll tax which was a problem in many Southern States. We have passed the Voting Rights Act, and we have done it with many other measures. Now, we should extend our base by giving to young people not only the opportunity, but I repeat again and again, the responsibility for this active, this full participation. The future in large part belongs to young people. It is imperative that they have the opportunity to help set the course of that future, not the future of those who are 50, 60, 70 in this room, but set the course, partially at least, for their future.

My estimate of young people is high. Of course, an older person sometimes disagrees with what segments or minorities of youth do, but I repeat that in my overall estimate of young people I am convinced that they are worthy of this responsibility. I feel that our youth is equal to the challenges, the challenges of today and tomorrow, just as I think older people are equal to those challenges of today and tomorrow.

I hope, and I believe that they can aid through the ballot in bringing into being a better world. It is not Polyannish to say that, Mr. Chairman. I believe it very much. And now I repeat, there are 68 Senators that are listed on Senate Joint Resolution 147. I think that it is appropriate to say that four Senators who are not on the resolution have told me personally that they will vote for the resolu

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tion, Senate Resolution 147, when it comes to a vote in the Senate. So, we have 72 votes that we now know are certain, and I have every hope that there will be five or 10 others.

There is overwhelming evidence, and you have said this, Mr. Chairman, in your very excellent opening statement, that the Senate is ready to act on an amendment to lower the voting age to 18. I trust, Mr. Chairman, and Senator Cook, that this action can be taken in the second session of the 91st Congress.

That concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman.

Senator BAYH. Thank you very much Senator Randolph. Your statement is so complete and all-encompassing and goes specifically to the merits of the case that it really leaves little room for questioning, as far as I am concerned. We are deeply grateful for the effort you have made and are making, and we are going to continue to cooperate in every way possible.

Senator Cook, as Senator from a State that has seen the light, I think it is particularly significant that you are a Member of this subcommittee, and we are going to lean very heavily on you, if we may, when the time comes to bring this before the executive session of this committee. Do you have any questions for Senator Randolph? Senator Cook. Senator Randolph, I must confess that I am delighted to say that my State has passed an amendment to our Constitution to vote 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds, and it has had it for some 14 years.

For those who say to me that people are entitled to be drafted at 18 years of age and therefore why should they not be entitled to vote, and I usually reply that it is more important to admit that the 18-year-old and the 19- and 20-year-old is now an absolute vibrant part of this society and an integral part of it. I would like to ask you, and try to help really in a way to answer, Senator, young Kevin Phillips in his book, a very controversial book, "The Emerging Republican Majority." He says that youth is important, but_voters under 25 cast only 7.4 percent of the Nation's ballot in 1968. Do you have any comment on that percentage?

Senator RANDOLPH. Senator Cook, first of all before answering that question, you have indicated that some of the responsibilities of youth that I have listed are not really the core of this problem and I fully agree. I set them down not at the beginning. You will recall that I indicated and said that these 11 million Americans-these young people, 18, 19 and 20-are educated, are motivated, and are involved Americans. Yet they cannot participate in this electoral process, the use of the ballot. Some say they are too immature, and you and I say, Senator Cook, they are ready for this responsibility. Now, to go to your question about the percentage of the young people who vote, and the percentage who do not vote, I, of course. regret when a person is eligible to vote but does not vote. I regret this in a person of any age that now has the ballot. I will not try to make comparisons of States, but in the Commonwealth of Vir ginia, in the recent first gubernatorial primary in that State, which was a very, very important primary, millions of dollars were spent in the campaign by the candidates. The issues were highlighted, they were front-paged, they were on television and radio constantly. When

the votes had been counted approximately 34 percent of those eligible in that election had participated with the ballot. Now, I regret that very, very much.

I can give another case in point, and I use these two cases because they are recent. You know, of course, of the huge sums of money spent, the exposure of the candidates and their viewpoint to the people of New York City during the first primary in the recent mayorality election.

Only 42 percent of the people cast their ballots in that election. Now, I realize that ofttimes people vote to a greater degree in a crisis or when there is some particular issue that is brought home to them. It may be a school bond issue in a certain community. But, you are speaking today, of the overall voting and the neglect of the voting, and participation in voting.

I can only say that it is my belief that if young people, with the focus that now is on young people, are given this ballot of opportunity, but more importantly a ballot of responsibility, I believe that they will use it to a greater degree than those young people who have perhaps failed to use it in as high a percentage as they should have used it in past years. I have this faith. I cannot base it, Senator Cook, on anything but faith but I believe that these young people will use the American ballot.

Senator Cook. Well, let me add to what you have said, I think the 7.4 percent figure means absolutely nothing because if this is typical of the 21- to 25-year-old voting age, as he wishes to put it forth in his book, then certainly this franchise is given to that 21to 25-year-old group and if they are reticent to exercise it then I do not think we should penalize the group from 18 to 20. I also feel that it is a very misleading figure because I think that the 18to 25-year-old group is probably one of the most mobile groups that we have in our society today. I am afraid that along with the fact that this percentage is low, we would also have to attribute that low percentage to the fact that many States in the Union make it difficult to acquire absentee ballots, and have all kinds of restrictions on how one can apply for an absentee ballot. Some almost seem more dedicated to seeing to it that young people do not vote than seeing to it that they do vote. And the rightness or wrongness of the issue does not really depend upon how many people vote. I think, as you have exhibited in your figures in the Virginia primary, Í might say in the Virginia general election, and the primary in New York and in the general election, thousands and thousands of people failed to exercise their right to vote. So, I think that this argument is not valid.

May I say to the Senator and may I say to the chairman, it is my understanding that even though we may pass this in the Senate in this session that we will have very grave difficulty in getting it through the House, purely and simply because we may have an extraordinary problem even getting it out of the committee. And I might suggest to the witness and to the chairman that the chairman of the committee is I think close to 80 years old, which I might suggest tells you something about his disposition on this issue.