The Delaware Senate voted to approve legislation Wednesday evening allowing 16- and 17-year old citizens to register to vote in Delaware when they get their driver’s license. On the last day of the General Assembly’s 2009-2010 session, the Senate voted 14-6, with 1 senator absent, to approve HB 381.
HB 381, sponsored by Representative Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear), was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year. It was passed by the House in May by a sizable majority.
Under current Delaware law, only citizens over the age of 18, or who will be 18 by the next general election, are eligible to register to vote. HB 381 would allow 16- and 17-year-old citizens who wish to register to vote to do so when they first go to apply for a driver’s license with the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles. Those individuals who take advantage of this legislation would still, however, not be able to vote until they reach the age of 18 before the next general election.
If signed by the governor, Delaware will join Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina and Rhode Island as states that have adopted similar pre-registration legislation.
The bill expected to be signed by the Governor in the coming weeks. If signed, it would not take effect until January 1, 2012.
David Sophrin is a legal intern with Project Vote.