A 2256 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Authorizes citizens who are sixteen years of age to vote in school district elections; repealer

This bill lowers the voting age for school district elections from 18 to 16 years old. It directly affects 16- and 17-year-old residents in New York school districts who meet other voter qualifications. Key provisions amend multiple sections of the Education Law (including voting age requirements in Sections 2012, 2502, 2553, and 2603) to replace "eighteen" with "sixteen" and explicitly deem 16- and 17-year-olds as qualified voters. The bill also updates absentee ballot forms to reflect the new age requirement. It does not change voting eligibility for other elections or apply to non-school district voting.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A2256 A2256A · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify that sixteen-year-olds are eligible to vote in school district elections, while simultaneously adding a restriction that individuals under eighteen cannot run for office on school boards. The text was also updated to use gender-neutral language throughout.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding voting eligibility for sixteen-year-olds remains consistent, but it now explicitly excludes minors from holding school board positions.
ELIGIBILITY

Changed the voting age threshold from eighteen to sixteen in the act title and explanatory text to reflect the bill's intent.

Added a new provision stating that no person under eighteen years of age is eligible to serve as a member of a board of education.

REQUIREMENT

Updated legal text to replace gendered pronouns (he/his) with gender-neutral terms (person/their) in voter registration and absentee voting forms.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 2256A
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors