An Act lowering the voting age in municipal elections in the town of Arlington
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| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 4/2/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5311↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 8/29/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM in B-1 |
| 6/18/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 6/16/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Election Laws |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J15 | Accompanied | — |
Notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 51 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, any individual aged 16 or 17 years old residing in the Town of Arlington, who is ineligible to vote due to age under state law, but who is otherwise eligible, may apply to have their names entered on a list of voters established by the town clerk of the town of Arlington. Such individuals on the list of voters may vote in any election for local offices, local ballot questions, and town meeting in accordance with this act. For the purposes of this act, “local voters” shall be any individual who is eligible to vote pursuant to this act in a local election or upon a local ballot question in the Town of Arlington.
The town clerk of the town of Arlington shall require local voters to complete an alternative registration form and shall establish a separate registration list for local voters. Upon turning 18, each local voter shall be taken off the separate registration list and notified that they must register as a regular voter in accordance with state law in order to be eligible to vote.
The town clerk of the town of Arlington may promulgate regulations, guidelines and forms to implement the purpose of this act.
The town of Arlington may pass bylaws to implement the purpose of this act.
Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer upon local voters the right to vote for any state or federal office, or on any state or federal ballot questions.
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 51 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, any individual aged 16 or 17 years old residing in the Town of Arlington, who is ineligible to vote due to age under state law, but who is otherwise eligible, may apply to have their names entered on a list of voters established by the town clerk of the town of Arlington. Such individuals on the list of voters may vote in any election for local offices, local ballot questions, and town meeting in accordance with this act. For the purposes of this act, “local voters” shall be any individual who is eligible to vote pursuant to this act in a local election or upon a local ballot question in the Town of Arlington. SECTION 2. The town clerk of the town of Arlington shall require local voters to complete an alternative registration form and shall establish a separate registration list for local voters. Upon turning 18, each local voter shall be taken off the separate registration list and notified that they must register as a regular voter in accordance with state law in order to be eligible to vote. SECTION 3. The town clerk of the town of Arlington may promulgate regulations, guidelines and forms to implement the purpose of this act. SECTION 4. The town of Arlington may pass bylaws to implement the purpose of this act. SECTION 5. Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer upon local voters the right to vote for any state or federal office, or on any state or federal ballot questions.