MA Lawmakers Weigh Lowering Voting Age In Local Elections

BEACON HILL, MA — Massachusetts lawmakers are considering legislation that would give municipalities greater freedom to lower the voting age in local elections. At a public hearing of the Joint Committee on Election Laws Wednesday, two bills will be examined that would place "every citizen 16 or 17 years of age, who is a resident in the city or town where he or she claims the right to vote at the time he or she registers" on the list of voters for local elections.

This would not apply to state elections, or lower the voting age statewide, but rather give cities and towns the ability to lower the voting age to 16 without state approval. Another bill being considered Wednesday is a Home Rule Petition from Somerville, which would make it the first Massachusetts community to extend local voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds.

Last May, the Somerville City Council unanimously voted to lower the voting age in local elections to 16. The idea was developed by an eight-person task force formed to "look at root causes and take a systems approach to ensure fair, equitable, and open elections that inspire greater participation both by voters and candidates," according to the city. The task force also recommended extending voting rights to non-citizens.

Somerville isn't the only municipality flirting with a lower voting age; Concord is considering letting 17-year-olds vote in local elections.

According to the Associated Press, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley supports lowering the voting age and has proposed doing so nationwide. Opponents say 16-year-olds are too young to be trusted with the vote.