Massachusetts is considering several bills to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections, with proposals like H.831 and H.813 aimed at authorizing those ages 16 or 17 to vote in town or city elections.
In Swampscott, local efforts began with a proposal from Select Board member Peter Spellios to change the election dates and allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in town elections and on ballot initiatives. The move signals that youth participation is a priority to turn around declining voter turnout and engagement.
According to a Patch of Swampscott report, Swampscott has struggled with low local election turnout, such as 13.8% in 2023, highlighting concerns about engagement compared with higher turnout in state and federal elections. Public input, including resident surveys on voting habits, has been part of the evaluation of potential changes to Swampscott’s local election process…