The bill presented by legislators Natalie M. Blais and Paul W. Mark seeks to grant the town of Whately the authority to allow residents aged 16 and 17 to participate in municipal elections. It establishes that these young individuals, who are otherwise eligible to vote under state law but are ineligible due to age, can apply to have their names added to a special list of voters maintained by the board of registrars of voters in Whately. This list will enable them to vote in local elections and on local ballot questions.

To facilitate this process, the board of registrars is required to create a separate registration list and an alternative registration form specifically for these local voters. Upon turning 18, these individuals will be removed from the special list and notified to register as regular voters. The bill also allows the board to create necessary regulations and forms, and mandates that if a local ballot question is included on a state election ballot, a separate ballot for that question must be printed at the town's expense. Importantly, the bill clarifies that local voters will not have the right to vote in state or federal elections or on state or federal ballot questions.