Brookline Votes To Lower Voting Age To 16

BROOKLINE, MA — Residents as young as 16 are not too young to weigh in on Brookline's bylaws and future, especially where it concerns them, so they should be allowed to vote — that's what some 240 elected Town Meeting members concluded Thursday night.

"I don't think we're in danger of a stampede of irresponsible teenage voters," one Town Meeting said during debate.

In addition to setting shorter hours for cannabis retailers in town, Brookline's legislative branch voted to petition the Commonwealth for power to lower the voting age for municipal elections to 16. The town joins the likes of an increasing number of municipalities moving toward this. Somerville, Concord, Malden, Beverly, Ashfield, Shelburne, and Wendell and Northampton have all held votes to this end.

After nearly three hours Brookline legislators voted to restrict marijuana retailers' hours of operation, turned down a proposal that would require appointments for marijuana sales, and voted to refer a question of evaluating bylaws related to marijuana retailer regulations to the town's licensing committee.

The town spent the rest of the night discussing whether Brookline's voting age should be lowered to 16. If the state approves giving the town home rule on this, people as young as 16 could be elected to Town Meeting or Select Board as long as they're registered voters.

Some argued that children's minds were not developed enough, that they weren't good decision makers, or that it might not make sense if the drinking age was 21.

"Voting is an adult responsibility and childhood is short enough," said Town Meeting Member Linda Roseman.

But students from Brookline High and supporters of lowering the age said they shouldn't be denied a seat at the table, when so many of the ramifications of voted on policies would fall on them. Young people said it would also help make them lifelong voters.

"We should be very, very careful and not at all cavalier about denying people the franchise," said Select Board member Raul Fernandez. "We should think about why we would not allow them to vote."

In 1971 the U.S. lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. But there was no provision that kept states from lowering it even more. A handful of municipalities in Maryland were the first to allow people younger than 18 vote in local elections.

The EMPOWER Act is a bill in the state legislature that would make it easier for cities and towns to lower the voting age on the local level.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has proposed an amendment to H.R. 1, the For The People Act to do that.

"Across this nation, young people are leading the way – from gun violence, to climate change, to the future of work – they are organizing, mobilizing, and calling us to action," said Pressley.

• Marijuana Regulations: Brookline Town Meeting To Vote
• Brookline Bans Fossil Fuels, Renames Coolidge Corner
• Brookline Town Meeting Night 1: Stipends, Driscoll, Oak Street

Votes on Night 3 of Town Meeting:

Special Town Meeting Article 1 - Limiting the hours surrounding operation of retailers

• Vote: Motion passes 161 in favor, 64 against and 5 abstaining

Article 2 - Limiting marijuana retailers to reserve ahead only (with an amendment)

• Vote: Motion fails, with only 107 in favor, 118 against and 3 abstaining.

Article 3 - A resolution asking the town not issue new operating licenses for retail marijuana establishments until the select board appoints a study committee and the committee submits recommendations.

• Vote: Referring to a licensing review committee passed 119 voted in favor, 110 voted against and 2 abstained.

Special Town Meeting Article 1: To file a home rule petition to see about lowering the voting age for municipal elections to 16.

• Vote: Passes, 142 in favor, 71 opposed and 6 abstaining.

Read more:

Marijuana Regulations: Brookline Town Meeting To Vote
• Brookline Town Meeting Night 2: Brookline Bans Fossil Fuels, Renames Coolidge Corner
• Brookline Town Meeting Night 1: Stipends, Driscoll, Oak Street
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• What To Do About Pot Shops In Brookline? Residents ...
• Man Arrested After Parking Lot Debacle At NETA In Brookline ...
• Brookline Pushes For Special Town Meeting On Marijuana Regulation
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Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).