HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4822        FILED ON: 6/12/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4223

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sean Garballey and Cindy F. Friedman

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act lowering the voting age in municipal elections in the town of Arlington.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

6/12/2025

Cindy F. Friedman

Fourth Middlesex

6/12/2025

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

6/12/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4822        FILED ON: 6/12/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4223

By Representative Garballey of Arlington and Senator Friedman, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4223) of Sean Garballey, Cindy F. Friedman and David M. Rogers (by vote of the town) that the town of Arlington be authorized to grant legal voting rights in municipal elections to town residents aged 16 and 17 years old.  Election Laws.  [Local Approval Received.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act lowering the voting age in municipal elections in the town of Arlington.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 51 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, any individual aged 16 or 17 years old residing in the Town of Arlington, who is ineligible to vote due to age under state law, but who is otherwise eligible, may apply to have their names entered on a list of voters established by the town clerk of the town of Arlington. Such individuals on the list of voters may vote in any election for local offices, local ballot questions, and town meeting in accordance with this act. For the purposes of this act, “local voters” shall be any individual who is eligible to vote pursuant to this act in a local election or upon a local ballot question in the Town of Arlington.

SECTION 2. The town clerk of the town of Arlington shall require local voters to complete an alternative registration form and shall establish a separate registration list for local voters. Upon turning 18, each local voter shall be taken off the separate registration list and notified that they must register as a regular voter in accordance with state law in order to be eligible to vote.

SECTION 3. The town clerk of the town of Arlington may promulgate regulations, guidelines and forms to implement the purpose of this act.

SECTION 4. The town of Arlington may pass bylaws to implement the purpose of this act.

SECTION 5. Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer upon local voters the right to vote for any state or federal office, or on any state or federal ballot questions.