Bill to lower voting age to 17 goes to House floor for debate

SPRINGFIELD -- A state constitutional amendment that would allow 17-year-olds to vote in Illinois has cleared its initial hurdle.

An Illinois House committee voted 5-3 to advance the proposal onto the floor for debate.

Some lawmakers voiced concern over Illinois potentially being the first state to allow 17-year-olds to vote, no strings attached. Eleven other states allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary election if they will turn 18 before the general election.

State Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat and the amendment's sponsor, said his idea is to allow 17-year-olds to vote in county, city and state elections.

But critics said it would make elections more expensive by requiring separate ballots and possibly voting machines for new teen voters to prevent voter fraud.

However, the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Reporters said it likely wouldn't be that difficult to do.