Arizona resolution that would have allowed teen legislators fails to pass

PHOENIX — An Arizona House resolution that would have allowed teens to run for state and county legislative office positions failed to pass through committee this week.

The resolution would have amended the Arizona State Constitution to allow 18-year-old citizens to run for positions like state legislature, judicial officials and even governor.

However, the chance of seeing a teen judge would have remained unlikely under the proposed measure as the Constitution would still have required a law degree.

Under the state Constitution, individuals have to be 25 to run for the state legislator and governor and 30 to run for a state judicial position.

The bill, introduced in early February, passed the House Appropriations committee by a slim 7-6 margin but ultimately failed to pass the House Rules committee on Tuesday with a 2-4 vote against. Three members abstained from voting.

This bill comes as some organizations and advocacy groups push for teens to get more involved in the nation’s political system.

News organizations like CNN have talked about lowering the voting age to 16 in the wake of the school shooting that happened in Parkland, Florida earlier this month.

Resolutions to lower the voting age have been introduced to the Arizona House multiple times in the past but failed to make it out of committee.