Growing up in Arizona: the ages that unlock a permit, a ballot, and a court order

Under section 28-3154, you can apply for an instruction permit at 15 years and 6 months after passing every part of the exam except the driving test. The permit lasts 12 months and works only with a licensed driver who is at least 21 sitting beside you.

At 16, section 28-3174 lets you apply for a class G license, Arizona's graduated license for drivers under 18. You must have held the permit at least six months and done one of three things: finished a driver education program approved by the Arizona Department of Transportation; finished a certified defensive driving school program plus 20 hours of supervised practice, 6 at night, certified in writing by a parent; or logged 30 hours of supervised practice, 10 at night, certified by a parent. Then you take the driving test.

For the first six months with a class G license, two limits apply. You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless a parent or guardian is beside you or you are going directly to or from a school activity, work, a religious activity, or a family emergency. And you cannot carry more than one passenger under 18 unless they are your siblings or a parent is in the front seat.

Emancipation is a court order that ends a parent's legal authority over a minor and makes the minor responsible for their own life. Arizona has a statute for it, section 12-2451. You must be at least 16, an Arizona resident, and financially self-sufficient, and you must sign a statement that you read the court's information about the rights, duties, and risks of being emancipated.

The petition is filed with the clerk of the superior court in your county. It has to show proof of employment or other income, proof of housing, how you will get health care, and your plan for school, training, or work. It also needs one of three things: documents showing you have lived on your own for at least three consecutive months, a statement explaining why your parent's home is not safe or healthy, or a notarized statement in which your parent consents.

The court must hold a hearing within 90 days of filing and must notify you and your parent by certified mail at least 60 days before it. A parent can file a written objection within 30 days of getting that notice. You may speak for yourself or hire a lawyer, and the court can waive the filing fee for hardship. The Arizona courts' Self-Service Center at azcourts.gov has the emancipation forms.

Section 1-215 defines an adult in Arizona as a person who has reached 18. That is the age of majority. Section 21-201 sets the same age for jury service: every juror must be at least 18, a citizen, and a resident of the county that summons them.

Voting comes a little earlier. Section 16-101 lets you register once you will be 18 by the next regular general election, so the Yuma 17-year-old could have registered months earlier. You also need to be a citizen and an Arizona resident for 29 days before the election.

Why is the voting age 18 everywhere? In Oregon v. Mitchell (1970), the Supreme Court held that Congress could lower the voting age to 18 for national elections but could not force states to use 18 in their own state and local elections. The 26th Amendment, ratified the next year, set 18 for all elections. Running for office takes longer: Article 4, Part 2, Section 2 of the Arizona Constitution says a state legislator must be at least 25, a citizen, a resident of Arizona for three years, and a resident of the county for one year.