HB 1249 General Assembly - Members - Age of Eligibility for Service Favorable Report March 12, 2012 Dear Chairwoman

n Harrison and Members of the Committee: HB 1249 would change the age requirement to serve as a State Delegate or State Senator in the state of Maryland from 21 and 25, to 18. If passed, the Maryland legislature would expand this important right to the last segment of the voting population that only has partial suffrageour young people. We urge a favorable report on this legislation to continue on the path towards full suffrage for all adults, which Maryland has pursued over the past 200 years. The passage of such legislation would be in keeping with our state's proud tradition of expanding equal and full enfranchisement to all voters--regardless of race, creed, gender, or ethnicity. For example, in the 1800s a Presbyterian State Delegate representing Western Maryland named Thomas Kennedy fought for eight years to fully franchise Jewish citizens. Finally in 1826, the Maryland General Assembly passed by one vote this nationally significant bill to allow Jewish people both the right to vote, and at the same time the right to serve. Two years later, Reuben Etting of Baltimore became the first Jew to be elected to the House of Delegatesan event, which could not have happened without the passage of full suffrage rights. Partial suffrage was also a difficult challenge for the womens rights movement to overcome. The best example of this is Belva Lockwood who was the first woman to graduate from what is now the George Washington University School of Law, and the first woman attorney allowed to practice law before the Supreme Court. In 1884, Lockwood was also the first woman to run on the ballot for President of the United States. Her Presidential race would serve as a powerful example of the contradictions inherent in partial suffrage. While she received about 4,000 votes nationwide, being a woman, she was not even allowed to vote for herself. This hypocrisy helped underscore the importance back then of full suffrage, and it remains relevant now. This legislation does not mandate a certain amount of young legislators, or give them assistance to run for office. If passed, there will still be a large discrepancy between the number of young people in office, and those in the general population. What this legislation will do is send a powerful message to young people that the rights and service of all voters is equally respected and upheld under the law. Therefore, we ask for your favorable report on HB 1249. Sincerely, Erin Schurmann President Young Democrats of Maryland Larry Stafford President Prince Georges County Young Democrats Dave Kunes President Montgomery County Young Democrats Joseph Kitchen Executive Vice President Young Democrats of Maryland Tom Myers President Harford County Young Democrats Tashea Brodgins President Baltimore City Young Democrats