[Crossposted from ONE Massachusetts]
ONE Massachusetts supports initiatives and programs that support civic engagement in our communities as a means to influence the policy decisions that affect our lives and those of our neighbors.
One of the most recent initiatives we are supporting is the one UTEC in Lowell is promoting that would lower the voting age in the city of Lowell from 18 to 17 years old. This campaign has attracted and mobilized hundreds of teens who believe in democracy and in ways to get involved in city life. These are young men and women who have come together to champion a legislative item that will have an impact within their close circle of peers.
The teenagers are asking the Legislature to approve a home-rule petition placing a referendum on the city’s November ballot, and need to get the bill on the Governor’s desk by the end of September!!!
The Committee on Election Laws reported it favorably on Friday. The teens now want our help to volunteer for the campaign and contact our State Representatives and Senators to voice our support.
“We are confident that this will pass, so right now we are just hoping it will pass quickly,” said Carline Kirksey, 16, a Lowell High School senior. “We’re preparing for our local campaign. We are trying to get volunteers to help us, because we can’t do this alone.” [Full Article: Lowell Sun]
If you have some time today call your State Representative and ask him/her to support this initiative. If you feel more compelled to participate with this campaign contact UTEC to learn about ways on how you can help and spread the word about this youth-led initiative with your family and friends. We always say our youth are the future of our communities. Let’s give the youth in Lowell a hand and let them know that we appreciate their efforts to make our communities a better place to live by participating in our democracy.
This is part of an email from UTEC sent today!:
“… We are the first city in the country to come this far and we’re more than confident that our bill will pass out of the House and Senate floor successfully.
As you may know, we have already begun our local campaign to spread awareness about Vote 17 Lowell and our ballot initiative to lower the voting age to 17 in Lowell municipal elections. Making history is not an easy task, and we cannot do this alone. We’re going to need volunteers to help us be “the first domino to fall” and make this campaign a successful one. Some ways you can help are: door knocking, promotions, donating to our campaign… and you are more than welcome to recruit any potential volunteers!
If you would like to help or want more information, please contact Susan sle@utec-lowell.org or Susan Le at ckirksey@utec-lowell.org .
Thank you in advance,
Carline Kirksey and Susan Le”
Help us spread the word and help UTEC and our youth pass this important piece of legislation!