Boston City Council Passes Youth Voting Home Rule Petition 9-4

BOSTON — July 20, 2026 — Boston City Council votes 9-4 to send a youth voting home rule petition to the State House. The council approved Docket 0185 Wednesday, a petition first filed by Councilors Julia Mejia and Kenzie Bok in 2021 that would allow Boston residents aged 16 and 17 to vote in municipal elections for local offices and ballot questions. Councilors Arroyo, Bok, Breadon, Coletta, Fernandez Anderson, Lara, Louijeune, Mejia, and Worrell voted yes; Council President Ed Flynn and Councilors Baker, Flaherty, and Murphy voted no. Bok argued that 18 is "almost about the worst moment" to grant a first vote, citing disruption and relocation at that age, while Mejia warned that "most things go there to die" at the State House and called for statewide organizing. The council also passed nine elder-services grants totaling $9,871,441.12 for the Age Strong Commission, gave a unanimous first reading to a $1,515,000 school facilities study for five BPS buildings, and referred two 17-F information orders on BPS special education and transportation to the Committee of the Whole after they failed to achieve the unanimous consent required for immediate passage.