for purchasing tobacco products. Lyons added that lowering the voting age would be detrimental to “all the great work that has been achieved,” on age-related issues. “On the one hand, they don’t trust people under 21 to buy tobacco products, but, on the other, they want to give much younger people the right to vote,” Tuerck said. “We have to wonder where this thinking comes from.” People also have to be 21 to buy alcohol and marijuana in Massachusetts. The age limit for the juvenile justice system was raised from 17 to 18 in 2013, and lawmakers have looked at raising it to 21. While in high school, Vargas was involved in a five- year campaign with UTEC, the state have asked to be given formerly known as United Teen Lawmakers are mulling Equality Center, advocating multiple bills that would let cities the authority to lower the voting age for municipal elections. alongside other young adults in and towns allow teens as young Lowell to lower the voting age to as 16 to vote in local elections, “It is time to give municipalities the option to empower their own 17. The city passed a home rule a move critics are calling petition in 2015, but it ultimately “frivolous” and “absurd.” young people,” Chandler said. “Cities and towns stalled in the Legislature. Two bills that would “This is about local allow “every citizen 16 or 17 have asked for this option for years, and I believe that control,” Vargas said. “You years of age, who is a resident don’t have to agree with in the city or town where he or young people deserve a voice in their local government.” youth voting, but we do have she claims the right to vote” to be to respect local control.” placed on the voting lists for local But MassGOP Chairman Jim Lyons told the Herald, “The “Because of the work our young elections will go before the Joint people did on this campaign Committee on Election Laws proposal to lower the voting age further to 16 years old is some years back, we remain for a public hearing at the State very supportive of the Empower House Wednesday, along with frivolous and without merit.” “The idea of lowering Act,” UTEC CEO Greg Croteau several other pieces of legislation. said. “We particularly appreciate Rep. Andy Vargas, the voting age to 16 is absurd on its face,” David Tuerck of its emphasis on local control D-Haverhill, and Sen. Harriette and allowing municipalities to Chandler, D-Worcester, who the Beacon Hill Institute said. “Legislators need to make make decisions that they see filed the Empower Act in the as best for their communities.” House and Senate, argued that up their minds,” Tuerck said, at least nine cities and towns in citing recent efforts to raise the age https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/01/20/legislators-look-to-let-cities-and-towns-lower-voting-age/.