its members in the States with referendums pending. Southern Christian Leadership Conference has embarked on an ambitious education program within the Southern States. The SCLC is working with its constituency and members of the general public to interest them in becoming more active on this issue. Americans for Democratic Action has been of assistance to our Federal lobbying effort and in fundraising for the national campaign, an area vital to our effort. The U.S. National Student Association, has published brochures and pamphlets for use in college campuses, explaining the issue and the arguments, and outlining how to organize around the issue. The Young Democrat Clubs of America have embarked upon a new program which concentrates on two major areas: the environment and lowering the voting age. In the coming year its effort will be to mobilize Young Democrat State organizations around the issue in order to secure State passage and to assist us in our national effort. YMCA and YWCA are both actively involved in disseminating information and providing representatives to work with the campaigns when they are organized. We are actively involved in campaigns in 13 States. Thirty-one legislatures are considering the issue and we are testifying before State legislative bodies when the issue is considered. We have developed an organization, are doing original research on the issue, which I hope to present in testimony later this morning, and we are directly involved in organizing young people from various political persuasions into a nonpartisan youth effort to work within the political system to obtain a lower voting age. Mr. Chairman, as the director of an organization vitally concerned with both State action and the national constitutional amendment, I am appearing before you to stress the necessity of Federal action due to the inequity and cumbersome nature of individual State action. On a variety of pressing issues we have witnessed the inability of States to move equitably and in a uniformed manner unless cause to do so is initiated by the Congress. Therefore, I recommend Federal action even though it must eventually be approved by three-quarters of the State legislatures as a means to provide for a lower voting age standard in the United States. The American democracy has survived for nearly two centuries. A major reason for its durability has been that, increasingly, the American form of government has been able to broaden the franchise so as to continue to be truly representative. It has become increasingly evident that to remain viable, the franchise must again be expanded so that the Government will be reflective and representative of the views of its younger citizens-those citizens aged 18 to 21. While the median age of the present electorate is getting older (45.1 years), the median age of the general population is getting younger (27.8). By 1970, at least one-half of our citizenry will be under age 25. With the exception of the set of persons younger than 18, the 18 to 21 group is by far the largest 3-year age set in America. Yet, this group of over 10 million American remains without equitable representation. While America's young people have no voice in their Government, they must, nevertheless, bear the burdens of citizenship in the form of paying taxes, fighting wars, assuming family responsibilities, contributing as adults to the work force, and bearing the civil and criminal consequences of their own actions. Our Government cannot be democratically representative while there remains a group of citizens who must bear the consequences of democratic decisionmaking but have no voice in that process. The Youth Franchise Coalition is working to lower the voting age not only because young people between 18 and 21 are unrepresented, but also because the American political system cannot survive as a viable representative democracy while these young people remain excluded from it. The youth of America have unquestionably reached a level of education and political awareness that enables them to accept the responsibility of voting. The generation now reaching 18 is better educated, more informed, and more concerned with the issues of the day than any generation in history. On the average, those who are in the 18 to 20 age group are much better educated than the adults of today. High schools are educating students better than their parents. Civics, government, history, and social studies courses are part of every student's curriculum and reach a climax during the senior year. This kind of education not only sharpens the interest in government but also supplies students with much of the knowledge to make a valuable contribution to society. Not only has our educational system improved, but the amount achieved by the average individual is much higher than ever before. In the early days of our Republic, the average 18-year-olds had only 5 years of formal schooling. Now, the national median number of school years completed by 18- and 19-year-olds is 12.3 years. In 1920 women were granted the right to vote in the United States. The educational qualifications of today's 18-year-olds far exceeds those of the women (or even the men) of 1920. At that time less than 30 percent of those of high school age were enrolled. Today, 90 percent are attending high school. Only 17 percent of the eligible population graduate from high school. Today, this figure exceeds 75 percent. In 1920 only 8 percent of the population could be expected to enter college. At present nearly 47 percent of the 18- to 20-year-olds are candidates for college degrees. It seems reasonable to conclude that from an educational standpoint today's youth are qualified to vote. This generation of youth feels most intensely the crisis of our times. More importantly these young people desperately want to be involved in finding answers ao the problems plaguing our country. Their concern about the problems plaguing our country and their desire to influence the future is evident by the involvement of large numbers of young people in recent presidential and congressional campaigns and in nonviolent demonstrations during the past 2 years. However, this degree of involvement remains shallow and unsatisfying to youth because it does not represent a meaningful way to influence the political process. Presently, there is widespread frustration among our Nation's youth-students and workers alike—because they do not have the opportunity for realistic and responsible expression through the use of the ballot. Granting them the right to vote would open to them the most effective, most desirable, and most legitimate channel of political participation and expression. No one can deny the fact that some young people have lost patience with the unresponsiveness of society. This small but significant minority has chosen more violent and radical solutions to the problems that beset us. If the disenchantment of youth increases because of a continuing unresponsiveness on our part, our society can reasonably expect more outbursts of violence. The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, speaking in favor of lowering the voting age to 18 as a partial remedy for youth's growing disenchantment said. **** it will provide them with a direct, constructive, and democratic channel for making their views felt and for giving them a responsible stake in the future of the nation." In Kentucky, where 18-year-olds have the vote, 80 percent of college youths of that age group voted in the last presidential election, illustrating a concern far above any other voting group. Yet, today, these concerned citizens can at most be only active observers, not full participants in the political process. In a democratic society they can adequately participate only by exercising a basic right of democracy-the right to vote. If that right is unjustly confined or denied, a vital principle of democracy is violated: that those who are to be bound by laws ought to have a voice in making them. The political consciousness of youth needs to be channeled into meaningful involvement within the political process. The most obvious means to involve these young people is through the ballot. For all of the above reasons, and more that will be presented to you today, the voting age should indeed be lowered. Instead of reiterating these arguments and their logic I would like to address myself to something more cogent to the prospect of a lower voting age in the United States: the reason why the voting age has failed to be lowered, the political realities of passing such legislation, and the fact that acknowledging these realities and actions rests with you gentlemen. The fundamental reason, why the voting age has not been lowered as it should have been 10 to 20 years ago, is the possible threat a new constituency poses to those in office. The same thing was true in 1789 when property ownership was dropped as a criterion for voting; in 1920 when women were enfranchised; and in 1965 when the Voting Rights Act afforded minorities a better opportunity to vote. In every instance, those in power were reluctant to endanger their status quo position with an extension of the franchise. There can be no guarantee to any individual legislator that his position will not be jeopardized. We do know, however, that in Kentucky and Georgia, Alaska and Hawaii, where the voting age has been lowered, that no sudden, dramatic changes have taken place. in the political situation. Probably the greatest impact in these States has been the extent to which the interest of young people in their Government has been stimulated. This can only result in a healthier and stronger American self-government. You are aware of what is happening in our society and that throughout the United States youth have a deep desire to affect societal change; yet, they do not have the legitimate means to influence decisionmaking. You are aware of the reasons for having the voting age lowered and many of you no doubt are in favor of a lower voting age. But, there is a difference between "talking the talk" and "walking the walk." Those of us working in the effort to extend the franchise constantly hear those who "talk the talk," but it is less common, unfortunately, for legislators to match their rhetoric with the necessary political effort to pass legislation. Today, you have an opportunity to do more than "talk the talk." You can meet the challenge youth and society are making by infusing youth into a political system which is becoming encrusted in worn-out traditions. There are 12 million individuals in the United States who, by lowering the voting age, would add 7.9 percent to the United States total voting population. The amount of vitality and equity this electorate would add to American democracy is immeasur able. Now it is up to you and to the rest of your colleagues whether or not the voting age issue will be submitted to the voters of the United States for ratification as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I urge the committee to report favorably on this issue. Mr. MACGOWAN. Thank you. Mr. WIDEMAN. Mr. Chairman, Senator Cook, my name is Clark Wideman. I am the midwest consultant for the Youth Franchise Coalition and formerly directed the campaign in Ohio where there was a referendum on the ballot last November. That lost, as Senator Bayh mentioned, by less than 1 percentage point. My remarks are directed at the four basic reasons, which, in my opinion, were responsible for the defeat in Ohio and similar action. which has taken place in eight States during the last 10 years. A detailed analysis of this Ohio campaign will be submitted to you during these hearings. (The material referred to follows:) OHIO COUNTY ANALYSIS, 1969-STATE ISSUE No. 1 POPULATION IDENTITY A. Counties with major metropolitan areas-8. Contribution to total vote, 56.60%. Won-3: Cuyahoga Hamilton.. Summit Lost-5: Montgomery. Lucas Stark Franklin.. Issue 1-48.83% yes. Contribution to the total yes vote, 56.39%. Percent 52.5 52.4 52.0 48. 1 47.0 45.5 45. 1 44.8 B. Counties with medium size urban centers-17. Contribution to total vote, OHIO COUNTY ANALYSIS, 1969-STATE ISSUE No. 1-Continued Lost-12: Erie Jefferson Allen. Clark. Sandusky. Scioto... Richland. Fairfield.. Butler. Trumbull. POPULATION IDENTITY-Continued Delaware. Lorain... Issue 1-49.52% yes. Contribution to the total yes vote, 17.91%. Won-20: Adams. Brown Percent 59.7 50. 1 57.9 Issue 1-49.06% yes. Contribution to total yes vote, 25.70%. Labor influence-11. Contribution to total vote, 55.76%. Won-4: Belmont... Cuyahoga Hamilton.. Summit. Lost-7: Jefferson Montgomery. Richland Lucas Lorain. Stark. Mahoning Issue 1-49.19% yes. Contribution to total yes vote, 55.96%. College or university influence-14. Contribution to total vote, 59.98%. Won-3: Percent 56. 3 52.5 52.4 52. 0 49. 2 48. 1 47. 1 47. 0 45. 9 45. 5 45. 1 Percent 52.5 52.4 52.0 |