Parties split over teen voting bill

By Jim Sanders - jsanders@sacbee.com

Voting is as American as mom and apple pie ? the more votes cast, the better for democracy, right?

Not necessarily.

Efforts to gradually increase California's pool of voters by targeting young teenagers are splitting the Capitol along party lines.

Democrats support, Republicans oppose.

"There's red apple pie and blue apple pie," quipped John J. Pitney, government professor at Claremont McKenna College.

The issue came to a head recently with Assembly Bill 1819, which would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote, qualifying them automatically when they reach 18.

Students learn about U.S. government, history and economics in high school, so it's a perfect time to seek their commitment to active participation in elections, supporters say.

"It's an excellent complement to teaching the importance of citizen involvement," said Assemblyman Curren Price, the Inglewood Democrat who proposed the measure.

The bill passed the Assembly and was sent to the Senate last month on a party-line vote, 45-31, with no GOP support.

Assemblyman Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia, criticized the bill as a Democratic power play.

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