Re article 26
Steve K.
In Massachusetts, non-citizen voting in local elections is not currently allowed, but some towns have tried to make it happen.
🏛️ What’s the Legal Status in Massachusetts?
• The Massachusetts state constitution limits voting to U.S. citizens.
• However, several cities and towns have petitioned the state legislature to allow non-citizen residents to vote in municipal elections, such as for school committee or city council.
• These efforts require state approval, because Massachusetts does not grant municipalities the full authority to change voting laws on their own — even for local elections.
🏙️ Towns That Have Tried It:
|
Town/City |
Status |
|---|---|
|
Cambridge |
Approved home rule petition in 2003; still waiting for state approval. |
|
Amherst |
Approved a petition for non-citizen voting in 2020. |
|
Brookline |
Approved a petition in 2021. |
|
Somerville |
Approved a petition in 2021. |
|
Newton |
Discussed non-citizen voting, but no active legislation yet. |
None of these efforts have yet resulted in non-citizens being able to vote, because the state legislature has not granted final approval to any of them.
⚖️ Summary:
• No town in Massachusetts currently allows non-citizens to vote.
• But Lexington could join other towns in filing a home rule petition to request permission from the state.
• Until the Massachusetts legislature changes state law or approves a town’s petition, non-citizen voting remains prohibited statewide — even at the local level.