Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Mass. election committee hears bills to let 17-year-olds vote in primaries, and proposals to lower voting age
Summary
The Joint Committee on Election Laws heard testimony supporting Senate Bill 526 and House Bill 854 to allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election to vote in primaries, along with separate proposals to lower municipal voting ages and expand youth voter engagement.
The Joint Committee on Election Laws heard testimony supporting bills that would let some 17-year-olds vote in primary elections and considering broader proposals to lower the voting age. Senator O'Connor and youth advocates spoke during a hearing at the State House on bills including Senate Bill 526 and House Bill 854.
"Very simply, this bill would allow for 17 year olds to vote in a primary election if their birthday is before the general election," Senator O'Connor told the committee, saying the change would boost early voting habits and give younger voters a voice in candidate selection in competitive…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
