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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Frank Dermody |
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On the road: Fox Chapel students to attend, testify at Pa. House public hearing on the right to vote
CHESWICK, March 4 – Nearly 50 Fox Chapel Area High School students will attend next week the first of three House State Government Committee hearings on legislation that would allow some 17-year-olds to vote.
The hearings are being held at the request of state Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, who is championing this issue on behalf of the Fox Chapel students. The first hearing will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, March 14 in the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., Philadelphia.
"When the students first questioned me about why they couldn't help choose a candidate in the primary election, even though they could vote in the fall, simply because of when their birthday falls, I thought they had a valid point," Dermody said. "Since then I have been working to get their issue heard. We, as legislators, are always looking for ways to excite the younger generation and turn them on to the democratic process, and I think this piece of legislation can do just that."
The bill (H.B. 520) would allow 17-year-olds to register to vote in the primary election if they will be 18 by the general election. It was introduced by Rep. Richard Grucela, D-Northampton, a former teacher.
"Excluding some young voters from the primary election excludes them from half the process," Grucela said. "We should allow them to vote in primaries and decide the candidates from which they will choose in the fall."
Dermody approached Rep. Babette Josephs, chairwoman of the State Government Committee, to hold hearings on the legislation and obtain a perspective from the students themselves.
"The right to vote is an important civic responsibility, and we are seeing our youth become more and more engaged in the process, wanting their voices to be heard," Josephs said. "It's only fair to give them an opportunity to voice their position on an issue about which they feel very strongly. I look forward to hearing what the students from Fox Chapel have to say."
Although 47 Fox Chapel students will attend the Philadelphia hearing, only two and their teacher will testify: students Julia Hazlet and Luke Secosky, and teacher advisor Jennifer Klein.
In addition to the March 14 hearing in Philadelphia, other hearings will take place on May 2 in Easton and May 9 at Fox Chapel Area High School. It is anticipated that students from the local area also will testify at each of the hearings, along with the Fox Chapel students.
So far, nine states already offer this option
to 17-year-olds.
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