A poll came out this week that suggests Massachusetts residents are against lowering the voting age in local and national elections. As it turns out, our Short List panelists aren't so hot on it either.
The survey of Massachusetts residents by Western New England University found respondents are against lowering the voting age to 16 in national elections, by a 2-to-1 margin.
Tim Vercellotti, pollster at WNEU, told NEPR earlier this week that respondents listed several reasons for their opposition.
"Fifty-one percent said they're just not mature enough to vote at 16 and 17," he said. "And then 22 percent said they don't have enough knowledge about candidates and issues at that age."
Panelist Matt Szafranski said lowering the voting age could potentially get more people to vote, if that's the stated goal.
"But are more young people going to be interested in voting?" he said. "I think, really, the energy might be better addressed toward making sure young people understand why it's important to vote, rather than simply letting more of them vote."
Those surveyed in the poll did favor civic engagement by young people — like walkouts over climate change, and community service requirements to graduate high school. Could that lead to more active voters when they turn 18?
Panelist Rick Hurst isn't so sure.
"Not a lot of people vote now," Hurst said. "And I think if young people were given the right to vote, probably fewer of them would vote than even the 10 percent that comes out in Springfield."
The MGM Springfield casino is down to 2,300 employees, about 700 fewer than when it opened last summer. MGM promised it would have 3,000 when it opened its doors. The jobs figure is meant to be flexible, but Springfield's chief development officer said that number is the expectation.
It appears it will be a big field in the Springfield, Massachusetts, mayoral race this fall, with as many as four challengers running against incumbent Domenic Sarno. The sitting mayor is also sitting on a healthy campaign war chest — more than $99,000 as of the middle of the month, according to state campaign finance data.
And the Connecticut House approved a bill this week that would require that African American and Latino history be taught in high school. The measure is now before the Senate as the legislative season is drawing to a close soon.
Guests:
- Mass Szafranski, editor, Western Mass Poltiics & Insign
- Rick Hurst, publisher, Af Am Point of View
Heather Brandon contributed to this report.
Listen to The Short List Podcast.
Disclosure: MGM has purchased underwriting from New England Public Radio publicizing the company's non-gambling activities. The NEPR newsroom operates independently of the station's development department, and editorial decisions are made without regard to any funding relationships.
