HD11 - Report of the Age of Majority Study Commission

  • Published: 1972
  • Author: Age of Majority Study Commission
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 99 (Regular Session, 1971)

Executive Summary:

At the 1971 Session of the General Assembly, the United States Constitutional Amendment which lowered the voting age of all citizens to eighteen was ratified by Virginia. This move on the part of the Virginia legislature initiated new thinking concerning what is a legal majority. If the age of twenty-one had been used as the legal commencement for adulthood as reflected in the past voting laws, should the acceptance of the lower voting age be extended to all areas? Because of the need for study House Joint Resolution No.99 was introduced and adopted.