(The Center Square) – The Iowa Senate on Monday unanimously passed SJR 9, which would update the Iowa Constitution to reflect the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which in 1971 lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
However, Iowa never updated its own constitution (Article II, Sec. 1) to grant the right to vote to 18-year-old registered residents. Currently, voters need to be at least 17 for primary elections, provided they would be 18 by the corresponding general election – under Iowa Code.
Updating the constitution carries an estimated cost of $14,400, due to requirements for publishing announcements in newspapers statewide, according to a fiscal note on the resolution.
Upon passage, the amendment would need to be published in two newspapers “of general circulation” per Iowa congressional district, once a month for three months before the next General Assembly begins, the note said.
“Upon passage of the same amendment by the succeeding General Assembly, Iowa Code section 49A.2 requires the amendment to be published in newspapers in all 99 counties once each month for three consecutive months immediately preceding the general election,” the note said.
In the fiscal note, the projected average cost of publishing a proposed constitutional amendment per newspaper would be $600.
“The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2022 (FY 2023), prior to the convening of the 2023 Legislative Session,” the note said. “Assuming the proposed amendment is passed a second time by the 90th General Assembly, the estimated cost would be $178,200 (99 newspapers x 3 months x $600). The costs would be incurred in the fall of 2024 (FY 2025).”
The costs would be incurred by the Secretary of the Senate’s Office and the Chief Clerk’s Office in the House of Representatives and reimbursed by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, according to the note.
“This Tuesday, March 30 is the 50th anniversary of Iowa ratifying the 26th Amendment, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18,” Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate tweeted on March 29. “We’re asking high schools to help eligible students #RegisterToVote on Tuesday with a statewide Iowa High School Voter Registration Day. #BeAVoter.”
Any school that by April 16 registers at least 90 percent of eligible students to vote receives the Carrie Chapman Catt Award, according to a news release from the Secretary of State’s office.
Another constitutional amendment on voting, which would enable Iowans with felony convictions who have had their sentences discharged to regain voting rights, is now in the Senate. The House unanimously passed it as House Joint Resolution 11 on March 24.
The same newspaper publication and legislative requirements would apply, according to the resolution’s fiscal note.
