a report from Vice Mayor Jan Devereux, Chair of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee, for a public hearing held on April 10, 2019 to discuss the possibility of pursuing a home rule petition to lower the voting age in City elections to 16 years old

ATTACHMENTA GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, RULES & CLAIMS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE MEETING ~ AGENDA ~ 4:00 PM Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Sullivan Chamber CALL OF THE MEETING The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will hold a hearing to discuss the logistics and feasibility of implementing early voting in City elections, and to discuss the possibility of pursuing a home rule petition to lower the voting age in City elections to 16 years old. OPENING REMARKS AND INTRODUCTIONS Vice Mayor Devereux, Chair of the Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee DISCUSSION WITH CITY STAFF City Manager's Office; Election Commission; Law Department; Community Development Department PUBLIC COMMENT DISCUSSION ADJOURNMENT City of Cambridge Page 1

ATTACHMENTB Brandon Klugman Testimony on lowering the voting age to 16 for local elections Cambridge City Council Government Operations, Rules & Claims, April 10, 2019 1 am here today to speak in support of a potential home rule petition to lower the voting age to 16 tor municipal elections in Cambridge. My name is Brandon Klugman and I work for Generation Citizen, a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to action-oriented civics education that prepares them for lifelong, informed, engaged citizenship. Generation Citizen will reach 6,000 MA students with Action Civics programming this year. We also support youth-led efforts to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds on the local level around the country through our Vote 16USA initiative, which I lead. I know that Cambridge has a proud history of being a leader on this issue, having sent home rule petitions multiple times in the past, and I am excited that it is on the table again today. Lowering the voting age locally can help young people foster a lifelong commitment to civic engagement and participation. Indeed, research shows that voting is a habit and those who vote in the first election they are eligible for are likely to continue participating as habitual voters, while those who do not vote in that first election are likely to continue not participating, as habitual nonvoters, for several election cycles. Further, we know that age 16 is a better time than age 18 to establish that habit of voting. At 16, young people can vote while in high school and supported by peers, teachers, and parents. The cities that have implemented 16-year-old voting in Maryland have seen overwhelmingly positive results. Not only have 16-and 17-year-olds voted at higher rates than older age groups, but city councilmembers have reported an increase in interest in city programming and services and more vibrant discussion around community issues. As one councilmember told me in reference to 16- and 17-year-old voters, "they're acting like residents, which is exactly what we want to see." Several cities in Massachusetts have sent home rule petitions on this issue in recent years, and while none have passed in the state legislature, there is no better time to try and there's no better city than Cambridge to lead the way. The issue of 16- and 17-year-old voting has become substantially more mainstream in MA and nationwide in recent months, due in large part to leadership from young people like those here today, from local elected officials like members of the council who support this initiative, and from champions like Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who proposed this at the federal level, and her six other colleagues from the MA Congressional delegation who supported that move. 1 understand that this may sound like a bold idea, and some folks' gut reactions are negative. But I would encourage everyone to consider the evidence here. We can and should set each

age line at what makes sense for that specific activity in question, on its own merits. For voting, to ensure the strongest and healthiest democracy possible, 16 is the right age. I encourage the city council to approve this home rule petition and I look forward to seeing the continued vibrant participation of 16- and 17-year-olds and all young people in civic life. In addition, I encourage the council to do all it can to support a bill in the state legislature (H.720) known as the EMPOWER Act, which would give cities and towns the option to lower the voting age on the local level without needing to go through the home rule petition process. This would give cities like Cambridge the flexibility to discuss, debate, and potentially implement 16- year-old voting on the local level without having to worry about the hurdle posed by the home rule petition process. Our website, Vote16USA org, contains comprehensive information on the policy idea and the academic research on the topic. I am excited to see Cambridge lead the way with thi onversation and hope to see a home rule petition go forward in the near future

PITACHMENTO FILED ON: 1/18/2019 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1949 SENATE . . ... No. 389 By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 389) of Harriette L. Chandler, Andres X. Vargas, Dylan A. Fernandes, Julian Cyr and other members of the General Court for legislation to ensure municipal participation of the widest eligible range. Election Laws. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court (2019-2020) An Act ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION I. Chapter 51 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, 2 is hereby amended by inserting after section IF the following section: - Section IG. Every citizen 3 16 or 17 years of age, who is a resident in the city or town where he or she claims the right to 4 vote at the time he or she registers, and who has complied with the requirements of this chapter, may have his or her name entered on the list of voters in a city or town accepting this section in 6 the manner provided in section 4 of chapter 4, and may vote therein in any election for officers in 7 such city or town. 1/31/2019 Mathew J. Muratore Ist Plymouth Second Worcester 2/1/2019 Michael O. Moore 2/1/2019 Sean Garballey 23rd Middlesex 2/1/2019 17th Worcester David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf 21212019 15th Suffolk Nika C. Elugardo 2/1/2019 James K. Hawkins 2nd Bristol 12/28/2019 Joanne M. Comerford Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

FILED ON: 1/18/2019 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1949 SENATE .............. No. 389 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts PRESENTED BY: Harriette L. Chandler To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range. PETITION OF: NAME: | DISTRICT/ADDRESS: Harriette L. Chandler First Worcester 3rd Essex Andres X. Vargas Dylan A. Fernandes Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Julian Cyr 1/18/2019 Cape and Islands Jason M. Lewis 1/23/2019 Fifth Middlesex Rebecca L. Rausch 1/24/2019 Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex 26th Middlesex 1/25/2019 Mike Connolly 11th Suffolk 1/29/2019 Elizabeth A. Malia Middlesex and Worcester 1/29/2019 James B. Eldridge 25th Middlesex 1/30/2019 Marjorie C. Decker Michael J. Barrett 1/30/2019 Third Middlesex 1/30/2019 Joseph A. Boncore First Suffolk and Middlesex 15th Worcester 1/31/2019 Mary S. Keefe Anne M. Gobi 1/30/2019 Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex 1/31/2019 Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk Daniel J. Hunt 13th Suffolk 1/31/2019 Jennifer E. Benson 37th Middlesex | 1/31/2019 1 of 3

Daniel M. Donahue 1 16th Worcester Daniel J. Hunt 13th Suffolk Michelle L. Ciccolo 15th Middlesex Michael J. Barrett Third Middlesex David M. Rogers 24th Middlesex Carlos González 10th Hampden Natalie M. Higgins 4th Worcester Liz Miranda Sth Suffolk 1lth Middlesex Kay Khan Denise Provost 27th Middlesex Natalie M. Blais Ist Franklin Joseph A. Boncore First Suffolk and Middlesex Elizabeth A. Malia 11th Suffolk Tami L. Gouveia 14th Middlesex Bruce J. Ayers Ist Norfolk Peter Capano 1lth Essex Daniel R. Cullinane 12th Suffolk Julian Cyr Cape and Islands Marjorie C. Decker 25th Middlesex Michelle M. DuBois 10th Plymouth Middlesex and Worcester James B. Eldridge Nika C. Elugardo 15th Suffolk James K. Hawkins 2nd Bristol Russell E. Holmes 6th Suffolk Second Middlesex Patricia D. Jehlen 17th Worcester David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf Jack Patrick Lewis 7th Middlesex Rebecca L. Rausch Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex David Allen Robertson 19th Middlesex Jeffrey N. Roy 10th Norfolk Lindsay N. Sabadosa Ist Hampshire Jon Santiago 9th Suffolk Chynah Tyler | 7th Suffolk 2 0f3

FILED ON: 1/15/2019 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1132 HOUSE . . ... No. 720 By Messrs. Vargas of Haverhill and Fernandes of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 720) of Andres X. Vargas, Dylan A. Fernandes and others for legislation to lower the voting age for municipal elections. Election Laws. The Commonmealth of Massachusetts In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court (2019-2020) An Act ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 Chapter 51 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1F the following section: - Section 1G. Every citizen 16 or 17 years of age, who is a resident in the city 3 or town where he or she claims the right to vote at the time he or she registers, and who has 4 complied with the requirements of this chapter, may have his or her name entered on the list of 5 voters in a city or town accepting this section in the manner provided in section 4 of chapter 4, and may vote therein in any election for officers in such city or town. 3 0f 3

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SENATE — 2019-2020 CACHINE SENATO NAME ROOM PHONE 109-D 1572 Senator Michael J. Barrett (D) 112 1634 Senator Joseph A. Boncore (D) Senator Michael D. Brady (D) 519 1200 504 Senator William N. Brownsberger (D) 1280 Senator Harriette L. Chandler (D) 1544 333 Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz (D) 111 1673 Senator Nick Collins (D) 410 1150 Senator Joanne M. Comerford (D) 70-C 1532 Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (D) - 312-A 1639 Senator Brendan P. Crighton (D) 109-C 1350 Senator Julian Cyr (D) 218 1570 Senator Viriato M. deMacedo (R) 313-C 1330 208 Senator Sal N. DiDomenico (D) 1650 215 Senator Diana DiZoglio (D) 1604 320 Senator James B. Eldridge (D) 1120 Senator Ryan C. Fattman (R) 1420 213-A Senator Paul R. Feeney (D) 507 1222 109-E Senator Barry R. Finegold (D) 1612 413-D Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D) 1432 Senator Anne M. Gobi (D) 513 1540 Senator Adam G. Hinds (D) 309 1625 313-A Senator Donald F. Humason, Jr. (R) 1415 Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D) 424 1578 Senator John F. Keenan (D) 413-F 1494 Senator Edward J. Kennedy (D) 405 1630 Senator Eric P. Lesser (D) 1291 413-C Senator Jason M. Lewis (D) 511-B 1206 Senator Joan B. Lovely (D) 413-A 1410 Senator Mark C. Montigny (D) 312-C 1440 Senator Michael O. Moore (D) 109-B 1485 Senator Patrick M. O'Connor (R) 520 1646 Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D) 312-B 1551 Senator Rebecca L. Rausch (D) 1555 419 Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D) 1114 212 Senator Michael F. Rush (D) 1348 511-C Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D) 1500 332 Senator Bruce E. Tarr (R) 308 1600 213-B Senator Walter F. Timilty (D) 1643 312-D Senator Dean A. Tran (R) 1230 Senator James T. Welch (D) 413-B 1660 34 Democrats | 6 Republicans All telephone numbers begin with 617-722-XXXX - Mailing address: State House, Boston, MA 02133

Mick Kotsopowas Mr. Coleman pointed out would lower the voting age, is already allowed to register Chandler, D-Worcester, that that the Election Commission filed by state Sen, Harriette L.. ing its support for a Senate bill citingsuch cities as Cambridge, community activist, petitioned. the council Tuesday night, seek- William S. Coleman I, a local Hesaid it is a movement that is Beverly, Lowell and New Bedford. voting age to 16 in Massachusetts. i. point with eiforts to lower the- "gathering legs" all over the state. B2 Thursday, March 28, 2019 TELEGRAM & GAZETTE | telegrai.com. that effectively kills it. not let it hang over our head," Mrs, Lukes said. can be heard, " he said. ing so the pros and cons "Let's just file this and to the council's Rules and a chance for a public heat- "I'm just asking to give it Instead of asking the City state's Juvenile Court system. She pointed out that 16 year gested the petition be referred Mayor Joseph M. Petty sug- to file - a parliamentary move group have already registered. Io-and 17-year-olds so they He said soine 1,700 in that age olds are considered children for B. Lukes instead made a motion the purpose of jurisdiction in the can vote as soon as they turn 18. it simply be sent to a conmittee. Councilor-at-Large Konstantina petition, Mr. Coleman asked that Legislative Affairs Committee, but Council to take aroll call vote on his asked. "This is absurd." Mrs. Lukes motion to file After that motion failed, tee, but it lost by a 6-5 vote. supporting the referral were Because a motion to refer to refer the item to commit- Kathleen M. Toomey. Those M. Rose, District 5 Councilor District 3 Councilor George J. takes precedence, the counci • Councilor-at-Large Morris A. "Are we going to change the King, District 4 Councilor Sarai Bergman, Mis. Lukes, District 2 only consiüeted a child to age 15 law so that the (Juvenile Court) Russell and Councilor-at-Large Rivera, District 1 Councilor Sean because at 16 you can vote?" she Matthew E. Wally and Mr. Petty. Councilor-at-Large Khrystian E. first voted on Mr. Petty's motion Councilor-at-Large Gary Rosen, Councilor Candy Mero-Carison, Voting against the referral were jurisdiction is changed and you are CITY HALL NOTEBOOK Mr. Coleman's petition was sate lines as the previous vote. approvedby a 6-5 vote, along the Council says no to 16-year-old voters