Civic Booster Shot
CommonWealth
Bill would let 16- and 17-year-olds “preregister” to vote
BY: Wilder Fleming
March 22, 2012
When it comes to civic engagement, Massachusetts teens could hit the ground running and automatically be registered to vote on their 18th birthday under legislation approved yesterday by a Beacon Hill committee.
The Legislature’s election laws committee released a package of reforms, which includes a provision that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to “preregister” to vote. Under the bill, 16- and 17-year-olds could check a box on their application for a driver’s permit and automatically be registered to vote upon turning 18. Those 18 and older can already register in this way through Registry of Motor Vehicle offices.
“In 2008, nearly half of young voters aged 18 to 24 in the country were unregistered,” said the committee’s co-chairman, Sen. Barry Finegold of Andover, at a press conference. He said the initiative could help address this by reaching young people while they’re still in high school, where pre-registration drives could be held. “People who get involved in the political process at an early age are more likely to stay engaged,” Finegold said.
Marj Lewis (12 months ago)
Where is your list of the 49 supporting organizations?
thomas (11 months ago)
I have listed the organizations below:
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mass., Alliance to Develop Power (ADP), Boston Tenant Coalition, Boston Workers Alliance, Brazilian Women’s Group, Cambridge/Somerville For Change, Charles Group Consulting, Chinese Progressive Association, Clean Water Action Massachusetts, Coalition Against Poverty, Coalition for Social Justice, Coalition of Worcester Retirees, Common Cause, Dominican American National Roundtable, East Boston Ecumenical Community Council, Fall River Joint Tenant Council, Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association, Jobs with Justice, Lawrence Community Works, Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights, League of Women Voters of Boston, Massachusetts Peace Action, Mass Senior Action Council, Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, MassEquality, MIRA Coalition, Massachusetts New Partnership Team, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, MASSPIRG, MassVOTE, National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter, Neighbor to Neighbor, Neighbors United for a Better East Boston, New England United for Justice, North Shore Health Project, Oiste: The MA Latino Civic Education Organization, O’Neill and Associates, Project RIGHT, Inc., Public Policy Institute, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), 615, 1199 SEIU, The ARC of Massachusetts, The Initiative for Engaged Citizenship, The Springfield Institute, United Teen Equality Center, Universal Voices, Young Democrats of Massachusetts