A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a home rule petition to the state legislature that would lower the voting age to sixteen (16) in municipal elections

Nancy E. Glowa Assistant City Solicitor Paul S. Kawa City Solicitor Keplin K. U. Allwaters Sean M. McKendry Arthur J. Goldberg Deputy City Solicitor Megan B. Bayer Brian A. Schwartz Katherine Sarmini Hoffman Samuel A. Aylesworth DONATA First Assistant City Solicitor NICO REGIMINE Public Records Access Officer Seah Levy CITY OF CAMBRIDGE Office of the City Solicitor 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 February 3, 2020 Louis A. DePasquale City Manager City Hall Cambridge, MA 02139 Re: Policy Order No. O-10 of May 13, 2019 which requests that the City Solicitor draft a home rule petition to the state legislature that would lower the voting age to sixteen (16) in municipal elections. Dear Mr. DePasquale: This is in response to Policy Order O-10 of May 13, 2019, attached hereto, which requests that the City Solicitor "prepare a home rule petition for the City Council to lower the voting age to sixteen (16) in municipal elections." The Commonwealth has determined in state law that only individuals (18) years old and older may vote in municipal elections. G.L. c. 51, §1. Therefore, a home rule petition approved by the state legislature is necessary for the City of Cambridge to allow individuals younger than 18 to vote in municipal elections. Although the City of Cambridge has previously requested that the state legislature approve home rule petitions to allow individuals (17) years old and older to vote in municipal elections, in 2002 and in 2006, which were not approved, the City Council has expressed the hope that submission of such a petition at this time will be approved by the egislature. Therefore, in response to the above referenced Policy Order, I have drafted th attached proposed home rule petition, which if successful, would permit the City of Cambridg to allow qualified residents aged sixteen (16) years old and older the ability to vote in Cambridge municipal elections. Very Truly Yours, Nancy & Glowa City Solicitor TTY/TTD [phone removed] Facsimile [phone removed] Telephone [phone removed]

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TO ENABLE SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD RESIDENTS OF CAMBRIDGE TO VOTE IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section one of chapter fifty-one of the general laws, or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, citizens sixteen years of age or older and who reside in the City of Cambridge, and who are otherwise qualified under section one of chapter fifty-one of the general law and under any general or special law, rule or regulation, may, upon application, be entered on a list of voters established by the Election Commission for the City of Cambridge, and may thereafter vote in any election for city council members, school committee members and on local ballot measures. SECTION 2. The Election Commission of the City of Cambridge is authorized to formulate regulations, guidelines and a registration form to implement the purpose of this act. SECTION 3. Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer upon sixteen and seventeen year old residents of Cambridge the right to vote for any state or federal office or any state or federal ballot questions, or provide any other rights or responsibilities other than to vote in an election for City of Cambridge city council members, school committee members and on local ballot measures. SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its acceptance by majority vote of the City Council of the City of Cambridge, but not otherwise.