HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 4428..... .J
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RESOLUTION NO. 44Z8
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
URGING THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD
ENFRANCHISE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED PERSONS OF THE AGE
OF 18 YEARS AND OLDER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
IN ALL STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS
WHEREAS, Article 2, Seci;ion 1, of the California Constitution
provides for the qualifications of electors of all elections which
are authorized by law: and
WHEREAS, said constitutional provision states that persons
of the age of 21 years who meet certain ether requirements of
citizenship and residency are entitled to vote at all elections
authorized by law; and
WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States in 1970 has seen
fit to allow persons of the age of 18 years to vote in federal
elections, and said Congressional enactment was held to be
constitutional by the United States Supreme Court on December 21,
1970~ and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia since 1943 and the State of
Kentucky since 1955 have seen fit to allow persons of the age of
18 years to vote in state and local elections; and
WHEREAS, it has been ably demonstrated by testimony before
the Congress of the United States, by the experience of the States
of Georgia and Kentucky, and by nearly uniform state practice,
~ncluding practice in the State of California, in areas other
than voting rights that persons of the age of 18 years are mature
~n_· _gh, intelligent enough, and educated enough to be qualified
as electors; and
WHEREAS, there should be no distinction between age qualifi-
cations in federal and state elections; and
WHEREAS, the denial of the franchise to persons in California
of the age of 18 years is unjustified and discriminatory;
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NO~, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION l. The Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California are hereby urged to enact legislation which will en-
franchise persons of the aqe of 18 years in all state and local
elections as soon as possible.
SECTION 2. The Honorable Senator Cla.rk L. Bradley, Assembly-
man Richard Hayden, and Assemblyman John VasC!oncellos of tlae State
of California are hereby urged to vigorously support legislation
which will enfranchise persons of the age of 18 years in all
state and local elections as soon as possible •
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SECTION 3. The City Clerk is directed tt; transmit a certified
copy of this resolution to Governor
President Pro Tem of the California
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Ronald Reagan; J~~s
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Senate; Bob Moretti,
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R. Mills,
Speaker
of the Assembly; Walter Karabian, Majority Leader of the California
Assembly; Robert Monagan, Minority Leader of the California Assembly;
L-.
Senator ClarkL. Bradley; l\ssemblyman Richard Bayden1 Assemblyman
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John Vaaconcellos; and Richard Carpenter, Executive Director and
Legal Counsel of the League of California Cities~
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: February 1, 1971.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSEN'l':
AP?ROVED:
Arnold, Berwal4, Clark, Comstock.·, Dias ,
Gallagh~r, Norton, Pearson, Spaeth, Wheatley.
Beahrs.
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