Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Granting the City of Boston the Authority to Provide Legal Voting Rights in Municipal Elections for City of Boston Residents Aged 16 and 17 Years Old.
Dawson 0185.0185 Petition for a special law regarding an act granting the City of Boston the authority to provide legal voting rights in municipal elections for city of Boston residents age 16 and 17 years old. Thank you. The Chair Recognize this council? Arroyo Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel, Royal U of the four. Thank you, counsel. President Flynn. The Committee how the working session on June 13, 2020 to this home rule petition to authorize the City of Boston to allow any individual age 16 or 17 who is a resident of Boston to be able to vote as long as they are eligible under state law for all other qualifications other than age, and to be clear, to vote in municipal elections. These individuals would be added to a list of voters established maintained by the Board of Election Commissioners and would be allowed to vote for local offices and ballot questions. This would be done by having them fill out an alternative registration form. The Board of Elections would be responsible for the associated costs. The petition would also grant the board the authority to implement regulations associated with this Act when the individual turns 18. They would be removed from the separate list and informed that they must register to vote in accordance with state law. We were informed during this process that they can pre-register, and so it's possible that we can make that one smooth process. I would like to thank Councilor Maria and Councilor Brock for sponsoring this matter, as well as my council colleagues who joined us, Council President Flint and Councilors Murphy, Flaherty and Lui Gen. I'd also like to thank members of the administration. Anita Tavares, Commissioner of the Election Department, and Marta Crilly, archivist for reference and outreach at Boston City Archives. During this working session, we were able to gain clarity around the pre-registration process. For 16 and 17 years old, residents in the city of Boston and efforts of having a simplified process that would limit a burdensome effort on the elections department. The committee also discussed specific language changes that would ensure a more gender neutral version of this formal petition, as well as ensuring terms such as local voter were consistent with language already written by the Commonwealth. As we await more specific language changes from the original sponsors of this home roll petition, I recommend that this docket ought to remain in committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, counsel. While. Dr. zero 25 will remain in committee. Motions, orders and resolutions. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 0767 Police.