Robin clicked this photograph during the January 22, 2020 hearing of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Election Laws at the Massachusetts State House, Hearing Room A-2.

In this scene, Representative Andy Vargas and Senator Harriette Chandler stand facing Committee Chairs (Senator Barry Feingold and Representative John Lawn) and other Committee Members to present the EMPOWER Bill. Proponents watch and wait for their turn to give their three minutes of public comment. Many will have already submitted written testimony.

Leading advocacy group Vote16USA offers this Fact Sheet and this summary about the EMPOWER Bill, which would grant permission to all Massachusetts cities and towns to determine by a vote of their local governing body whether to lower their minimum age for being qualified to vote in local elections from 18 years to 16 years. The EMPOWER Bill would carve out a limited exception to the typical requirement that with respect to the qualifications of voters, cities and towns can only vote about whether to file a home rule petition (to seek approval from the state to change a local law over a local matter). Typically, alterations to the qualifications of voters in Massachusetts is under the authority of the State Legislature — although, since these legislators are elected by people who turn out to vote, the group of people that would need to be persuaded to accept young voters is the active voters themselves.

In the foreground, notice the handlebar of Robin’s kids’ stroller.