H 4241 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act granting the town of Whately the authority to provide legal voting rights in municipal elections for town of Whately residents aged 16 and 17 years old

This bill allows 16- and 17-year-old Whately residents to vote in local town elections and ballot questions, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements (like residency) but are ineligible under current state age rules. It requires the town's board of registrars to create a separate voter list and special registration form for these "local voters," who must be removed from the list upon turning 18. The bill explicitly states these voters cannot participate in state or federal elections or ballot questions. The town must cover all costs for the separate registration forms and ballots for local questions. This is limited to Whately's municipal elections only, with no impact on state or federal voting rights.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jul 2025
Governor
Introduced Jun 30, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Jul 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Jun 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Election Laws
lower
0 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.