Albany, NY – Senator Jamaal T. Bailey (D–Bronx) and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D–Queens) joined Vote 17 NY, a student-led, nonpartisan coalition to urge passage of their legislation that would 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the general election to vote in state primary elections (S3231/A6590; S3232/A6598). They were joined by State Senator Shelley Mayor and Assemblymember Chantel Jackson.

Under current law, New York prohibits 17-year-olds from voting in primary elections, even if they will be eligible to vote in the general election later that year. As a result, thousands of young New Yorkers are excluded from the elections that determine which candidates appear on the November ballot. Twenty-one states and Washington, D.C. already allow 17-year-olds who will be eligible to vote in the general election to participate in primaries, providing young voters with an early opportunity to engage in the democratic process. In New York, this reform requires both legislative action and a constitutional amendment, making passage this session critical to expanding voter access and ensuring all eligible voters are heard.

“Young people are stepping up, organizing in their communities, and demanding a voice in our democracy,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “If you will be eligible to vote in November, you should be able to participate in primary elections that decide who even makes it onto the ballot. This legislation is about fairness and equity, giving young voters the opportunity to engage fully at every stage of the electoral process. I want to thank Senator Jamaal Bailey for his leadership in carrying this bill in the Senate, and I am grateful to the students of Vote 17 NY for their advocacy in making this commonsense reform a reality.”

“A birthday should not dictate the ability of a young person to engage in the democratic process and choose the leader their preferred party puts forward,” said Senator Jamaal T. Bailey. “Democracy is most vibrant when our youngest citizens are not just spectators, but active participants in the decisions that will define their future. Too many young people are sidelined during the primary process, unable to help select the candidates they will be asked to vote for just a few months later. A seventeen-year-old who will be an adult by the time of the general election deserves to have a voice in the platforms and the people who will lead their community. This legislation closes that gap, ensuring that our youth are empowered to engage in the electoral process from the very start. I want to thank Assemblywoman Nily Rozic for her tireless advocacy, Senate Education Chair Shelley Mayer for her involvement in making these great young people get to the capitol, and all my colleagues in the legislature for their commitment to strengthening our democracy and fostering a new generation of lifelong voters.”

“New York has already recognized that young people’s civic engagement matters by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. This legislation simply completes that promise. If a young person will be 18 by the general election, they should be able to participate in the primary that determines the choices on that ballot. Right now, thousands of 17-year-olds are old enough to register, organize, work, and prepare to vote in November, but are excluded from shaping the ballot itself. That’s not just a technicality, it’s a real exclusion. I’m deeply grateful to Assemblymember Nily Rozic and Senator Jamaal Bailey for their leadership in carrying this bill and for standing with young people across New York. This legislation strengthens democracy by ensuring young voters have a voice that matches their stake in our shared future,” said Max Dowell, Co-Founder, Vote 17 NY.

“This bill is simple, practical, and already proven. It does not lower the voting age, and it does not change eligibility for the general election. It only ensures that if you are legally eligible to vote in November, you can also vote in the primary that selects the candidates who appear on that ballot. Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C. have adopted this policy because it increases participation and builds lifelong voting habits. In New York alone, roughly 10,000 pre-registered teens are denied the opportunity to vote in primaries each cycle. This legislation removes an unnecessary barrier and gives young New Yorkers a fair and meaningful start to their civic lives,” said Mark Lebowitz, Co-Founder, Vote 17 NY.

“As someone who is 17 and will turn 18 before the general election, I can vote in November but not in the primary that decides which candidates even make it onto that ballot. That means my very first voting experience will already be shaped without me. That’s unfair, and it sends the message that young people’s voices only matter halfway. Many of us are informed, organized, and deeply invested in issues like education, climate change, and public safety. If we are going to be asked to choose between candidates in November, we deserve the right to help decide who appears on that ballot in the first place. This bill is about inclusion, fairness, and making sure young voters are fully part of our democracy from the start,” said Laura Cordova, Senior, Mamaroneck High School.

“Expanding the right to vote strengthens our democracy, and should include engaging young people as early as possible. Seventeen-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election are already preparing to vote, and are aware of the issues shaping their futures. By passing Vote 17, we're building a stronger, more inclusive democracy for generations to come,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.

"This legislation recognizes what we already know, our young people are ready. By expanding access to the ballot and removing outdated barriers, we are strengthening civic participation and making our democracy more inclusive and representative. The next generation deserves to be engaged, empowered, and at the center of the decisions that shape their future,” said Assembly Member Chantel Jackson.

“I was proud to join students from Mamaroneck High School who traveled from my district to Albany to advocate for legislation that would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 for the general election. Voting is a civic responsibility and it is important that we help young people develop lifelong habits of civic participation and a sense of commitment to their communities. I give credit to the Original Civic Research and Action (OCRA) Program at Mamaroneck High School, and teacher Joe Liberti, for prioritizing civic education and involvement that led these highly motivated high school students to advocate in Albany. I thank my colleagues Senator Jamaal Bailey and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic for their sponsorship of the underlying bill,” said State Senator Shelley Mayer.

The press conference concluded with a call for the State Legislature to advance these bills this session and deliver meaningful reforms that improve voter participation across New York State.