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Students and supporters present home‑rule petition to let 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds vote in town elections
Summary
Local students and community advocates outlined a home‑rule petition for Westborough to request state authorization allowing 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to vote in town affairs; presenters argued local voting impacts young people and that town and comparative examples support early civic engagement.
A group of students and community volunteers representing "Westborough Votes 16" presented Article 32, a citizen‑sponsored home‑rule petition asking the Select Board to petition the state legislature to allow local voting by 16‑ and 17‑year‑old Westborough residents. Presenters said the change would apply only to local votes and would still require state legislative approval and the governor's signature before it could take effect.
Gerhardt Doring, Olivia Stark, Chloe Blinn and other students emphasized that local decisions—school budgets, sidewalks, recreational programming—directly affect young people and that allowing 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to vote locally can build lifelong civic habits. The presenters cited examples from Europe and other U.S. municipalities that have pursued similar measures and said towns including Boston and Southborough have taken steps toward home‑rule petitions.
Select Board members praised the presenters for their organization and research. One board member noted the petition still requires state legislative action and recommended the group continue to engage with representatives and participate in town meeting debate. The board confirmed town meeting would take a majority‑vote on the article and that any town approval would be forwarded to the General Court as a home‑rule petition.
The board took no binding vote on the petition at the meeting and encouraged the students to continue outreach and attend town meeting.
