Gen Z voters turned out in historically high numbers in the 2022 midterms, and strongly favored Democrats. So now, some Republicans want to raise the voting age to 25.

As part of his 2024 presidential campaign, GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy wants a constitutional amendment to take away voting rights for those under the age of 25. Only if they serve in the military for six months or pass a "civics test" could they be allowed to vote.

Republicans know they cannot win elections on the merits of a growing, diverse population so they instead want to put up barriers that disenfranchise voters who do not approve of them.

Ramaswamy's amendment is not likely to pass, unless Republicans are in control of enough state legislatures and Congress. But it's consistent with Republican dirty tricks to suppress the freedom to vote for young voters and people of color with laws such as voter ID and rules that disqualify college students from voting. According to the Brennan Center, lawmakers in 32 states have introduced such voter suppression bills this year.

The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 during the Vietnam War, because those who can be drafted in the military deserve the right to choose our policy makers. To raise it now would be a step backwards in making our country less democratic. And such voting tests as Ramaswamy proposes have an ugly history of disenfranchising Black voters during Jim Crow.

Sign the petition: Denounce the GOP proposal to raise the voting age to 25.