SWAMPSCOTT— The town is seeking volunteers for its new Town Election Review Committee.
Residents voted in favor of forming the committee at a special town meeting this week as part of a larger article centered around increasing voter participation. The committee’s goal is to make recommendations to the Select Board and other leadership about changes in the town’s election process. Some of those potential alterations include “changes in the minimum voting age, the minimum eligibility age to be elected to municipal office, changes to the date and duration of municipal elections, and requiring early voting in municipal elections.” Any potential findings by the committee can be taken into account at the Select Board’s discretion.
Select Board member Peter Spellios led a presentation at Monday’s Town Meeting proposing amendments to Swampscott’s Town Charter that would hopefully increase voting access and ability. He revealed statistics that suggest voter participation in town is extremely low. A crucial component of his proposed charter amendment included reducing the minimum eligible voting age to 16. In addition to allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, Spellios seeks to engage and inform them with the civics process as well.
“Why don’t we capture them while we still have them,” Spellios said. “Imagine a world for a second where we have civics where we can capture the 15, 16, and 17 year-olds and can talk to them about the civic responsibility.”
The formation of the Town Election Review Committee is the first step in potential changes made to the legislation.
The committee is slated to consist of one Select Board member, one School Committee member, one Swampscott For All Ages Committee member, one Disability Commission member, one registered voter between the ages of 18-22, two residents between the ages of 16-17, and one registered voter from each of the town’s six precincts.
The young registered voter will be appointed by the Town Moderator, and the two 16-17 year old participants will be appointed by the Select Board.
The deadline to apply for the Committee is Monday, April 15. The Committee is expected to present its findings to the Select Board by October 31.
