Massachusetts debating the vote in local races for 16-year-olds

Legislators in Massachusetts are considering two measures Wednesday that would permit municipalities to lower the voting age in local elections.

Enacting the legislation would push the state to the forefront of the growing national movement to extend the franchise to teenagers in the name of boosting civic engagement. Opponents say young people do not merit so much responsibility.

The fact that the legislation has even been put on the state House docket is evidence of solid support among its overwhelmingly Democratic membership. The party also controls the state Senate, but Gov. Charlie Baker is a Republican and he's expressed skepticism about the idea.

The main bill facing a committee vote would not apply to state or federal elections but would give cities and towns the ability to lower the voting age for local contests to 16 without state government approval. Another bill would grant that permission to the Boston suburb of Somerville, which a year ago asked the legislature for permission, to become the first city in Massachusetts to make such a move.

"I did raise three teenagers, and based on that I'd be pretty dubious about lowering it to 16," the governor said at the time.