DENVER-
Colorado voters will be asked next year to lower the minimum age to be a state lawmaker to 21, from 25.
The Senate approved a measure Tuesday putting the question on the November 2008 ballot. The House approved it earlier. The governor’s approval is not required to put the issue before voters.
Rep. Michael Garcia, D-Aurora, said he sponsored the measure because he believes if 21-year-olds can serve in the military and pay taxes, they should be allowed to serve in the Legislature and vote on those issues.
Garcia said all adults pay taxes equally, yet one group of adults can serve in the General Assembly and make public policy but the other cannot
He said age is not a measure of maturity and voters are smart enough to decide who deserves to represent them in the Legislature.
The resolution had bipartisan support, passing 29 to 5, with five more votes than the two-thirds needed to put it on the ballot.
