Mass. election committee hears bills to let 17-year-olds vote in primaries, and proposals to lower voting age

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 primaries.

The measure is one of several before the panel related to youth voting. Lawan Allen, executive director of Vote 16 USA, testified in support of multiple bills including House Bill 814 and related proposals to lower the voting age in local contests. "Voting is habitual," Allen said, arguing that lowering the voting age can make young people lifelong voters and increase turnout among older voters as well.

Robin Chen, who identified herself as a lead petitioner for S.508/H.814 "an act enabling children's right to vote," described a multi-year effort and framed enfranchisement as both accountability and dignity for young constituents. "Your vote is your voice," Chen said during her remarks.

Proponents pointed to other states and localities as precedent. Senator O'Connor noted that 21 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted legislation enabling 17-year-olds to vote in primaries; he also cited Rhode Island's 2023 enactment. Allen said about 14 cities nationwide have lowered municipal voting ages, including nine in Maryland, three in California, and one each in Vermont and New Jersey.

Committee members asked questions about misinformation, voter readiness and international comparisons. One member, referring to her experience with Brazil, asked whether adolescents can be targeted by bad actors; Chen and Allen responded that misinformation is a broader societal problem and urged education and safeguards.

No committee vote was taken on any bill during the session. Committee chair Dan Hunt said written testimony would be accepted until action is taken on the bills and the hearing adjourned without formal action on the measures.

The committee hearing included 27 bills on the docket and nine registered public speakers; testimony was limited to three minutes per registrant, chair Dan Hunt said at the start of the hearing.