BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Boston City Council will discuss a measure that would extend voting rights to teenagers on Wednesday.
Under the provision, 16 and 17-year-olds would get the right to vote in municipal elections — not state or federal ones. The measure is co-sponsored by Councilor Julia Mejia and five other councilors, and the council could vote on the measure at Wednesday's meeting.
Mejia and the other councilors say teenagers are expected to do things like pay taxes but don't have a voice in how the city is run. They also pointed to the fact that the teenagers can be tried as adults.
The home rule petition, if passed, would create a separate voter roll for "municipal voters," who would then need to register to vote as adults once they turn 18.
Other local cities and towns like Cambridge and Brookline have tried to pass similar laws. All home rule petitions need to go before state lawmakers on Beacon Hill for approval, and previous attempts have fallen flat there. The mayor would also need to approve the motion.
On the streets of Boston, reaction to the idea was mixed.
18-year-old Charlize said she was in favor. "I think if they're eligible enough to work and pay taxes, they should be able to vote too," she said.
Some older residents were less keen on the idea. "They don't have enough life experiences to make decision that weighty," one resident told WBZ NewsRadio. Another said kids that young aren't "responsible enough yet" to vote.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) has more:
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App