Pages
Stay In Touch
More
© 2021 The Somerville Times. All rights reserved.
Clean and Open Elections Task Force member Ariel Horowitz, along with Somerville High School students Felix Brody and Jack Torres, presented their case to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in municipal elections to the Legislative Matters Committee.
By Jim Clark
A request put forward to the Somerville City Council’s Legislative Matters Committee by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone that a Home Rule Petition (HRP) to provide legal voting rights in municipal elections for residents aged 16 and 17 years old be approved for submittal to the state was taken into consideration at the Committee’s February 7 meeting.
A summary of the final report of the Clean and Open Elections Task Force, represented by Task Force member Ariel Horowitz, was presented to the Committee, followed by statements from Somerville High School students Felix Brody and Jack Torres on the specific issue of voting rights for 16 and 17-year-olds.
The students spoke of the advantages of allowing Somerville residents of 16 and 17 years to vote in municipal elections and why the HRP should be supported by the city.
Brody and Torres are participating in a statewide campaign to lower the voting age for municipal elections.
Brody shared with the Committee that there are two decision making processes: hot cognition and cold cognition. Hot cognition is quick and reactionary. This is not developed by the age of 16. Cold cognition is already developed at the same level at 16 as is it at 18, and is a more weighed, thoughtful decision making process.
Torres added that creating a culture of civic engagement is very important, and seeing the effects of this engagement at the age of 16 builds a greater faith and trust in government and politics. It also helps develop the long-term habit of voting.
Brody told the Committee that there are many other municipalities where students are pursuing this right.
Councilor At-Large William A. White asked for data to better inform this decision, particularly around the legal implications involved in the matter. He also expressed a desire for a public hearing to be held around this issue.
Brody asked that a public hearing be held at a time that is accessible to high school students. He felt that a good time would be after school or on a weekend.
Ward 6 Councilor Lance Davis said that the engagement of these students and their ability to organize and speak about complex issues makes a strong case for enfranchising this age group.
Councilor At-Large Wilfred N. Mbah noted that, as Parkland demonstrated, young people can teach adults how to lead.
Council President Katjana Ballantyne noted a connection to the civic education law that was recently passed.
Councilor At-Large Stephanie Hirsch commented that the census data only lists people 18 years of age or older, and younger individuals are considered children, and thus their data remain private, so the Council would have to resolve the technical question of how to get these individuals added to the voter rolls.
Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen and Ward 2 Councilor J.T. Scott requested information about what the opposing argument would be.
Councilor White responded that one argument is the legal age of majority, but he would also like to hear both sides of the debate.
Ward 1 Councilor Matthew McLaughlin shared his support regardless of additional information. The Committee Chair, Ward 5 Councilor Mark Niedergang agreed with McLaughlin
Councilor White said that taking additional steps, such as a public hearing, will likely help in getting approval from the state legislature.
Councilor At-Large Mary Jo Rossetti suggested that the students use the media available at the High School to produce materials to support a Home Rule Petition.
The request was kept in Committee pending the results of the proposed public hearing and further study of the legal ramifications of the HRP.
If you found this article of interest, please consider sharing it.
I find some of the comments in this article to be totally ludicrous. I’m shocked that some on the Board state that they support it, regardless of additional information. This proves what we’ve known for a long time, they have an agenda, have made up their mind, they don’t care about the facts, and public hearings are a total waste of time. One fact involves the pre-frontal cortex, which regulates things such as decision-making. It is not fully formed until the age of 25, making those under that age to be easily manipulated and influenced. Do you still wonder why the Board likes this idea? As someone who has worked at the polls for many years, I will no longer work there if 16-year-olds are voting (or if non-citizens are voting which I suspect will be brought up next). I hope the Elections Commissioners are paying attention to this.
So the town that just recently raised the age for purchasing smoking products from 18 to 21 has now decided that 16-17 year olds are old enough to elect the officials who have the biggest impacts on our lives. While it is admirable that 16-17 year olds want to become more civically involved, most of them have completed only half of their high school government and history education, and have limited real life experience when it comes to employment, managing a household and paying taxes.
Reading between the lines on a lot of the proposals, they appear to favor keeping the incumbents in power as demographics change. As the town becomes more expensive to live in, the demographics will start shifting towards the right as higher income residents come in. The only way to counter an increase in fiscally conservative voters is to increase the more fiscally liberal (aka spend other people’s money) voter count. This will be used to get the votes to support property tax overrides by threatening school programs unless tax increases are voted for.
The folks running this town are moving further and further away from U.S. law, their oath to uphold the constitution and the law, and common sense. As they prefer to live with their arrogance in their little dream worlds, it’s time for some statewide referendums to put these folks in check.
So, too young/immature to drink, smoke, join the military, own a firearm, drive at night, but yeah, let them vote. After all, what is the worst that could happen from a vote? (45!)
Children under 18 are not sufficiently developed nor experienced enough to vote. Horrible idea.
I love how this BOA wastes everyone’s time dreaming up these home petitions that have less than zero chance of being approved. Don’t they have better things to do like helping businesses get around all the road detours or fixing potholes? Yikes.
Also, it’s fine that some 16 and 17 years old want to be civic minded (and have no doubt who the puppet masters are that are driving this – it ain’t the kids), but we’re talking maybe.5% of that age group really care or know enough about politics. Most of these kids want to do what 16 – 17 year old kids want to do – have a good time and continue “growing up”.
Plus there is this little thing in the way called the 26th amendment that needs to be hurdled over at the federal level. ZERO chance. What a waste of time.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment provides, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.”
Why do you think Ma. Law has established age 18 as an adult. And under age 18 you are a juvenile. Juvenile doesn’t mean they can make adult decisions, that’s why we have juvenile laws. Why does Somerville and the powers to be continue to try and fix something that’s not broken. The impression I’m getting is the inmates are in charge of the asylum.
Rather see my kid vote than a lot of people I meet around town.