Name: Pamela Tames
Office Sought: Town Meeting Member Precinct 7
e-mail address: pamela.tames5 [at] gmail.commichaelschanbacherlexpb [at] gmail.com (
)phone number: 781-572-1483

Community Activities: 

• Town Meeting Member, Precinct 7
• Executive Director, Lexington Community Farm
• Board Chair, Lextended Day, Lexington Playcare Center
• Committee Chair, Diamond and Estabrook, Temple Isaiah
• Board Member, Lexington Community Farm, LexFun (formerly LPPTA)

Article 43 on the 2024 Town Warrant is asking if the Town will authorize and request the Select Board to petition the General Court of the Commonwealth for Home Rule Legislation to allow any citizens in the Town of Lexington, who have reached the age of 16 or older, to register and vote in municipal elections within the Town, or to take any action in relative thereto. Would you support this article? Why or why not?

I would not support Article 43. I believe that 16- and 17-year-olds may lack the maturity and life experience needed to make informed decisions about complex political issues. I also worry that younger voters may be more susceptible to external pressures, which could impact the authenticity of their political choices. If the purpose of this Article is to encourage greater civic engagement, I favor improving civic education in schools and preparing young people to participate in the democratic process rather than lowering the voting age.