By Theresa Knapp 

Holliston resident Pooja Gupta has asked town and state officials to consider a local Home Rule petition that would allow non-U.S. citizens residing in Holliston to vote in municipal town elections. 

Gupta, who is not a U.S. citizen, said the idea came to her when she learned she was not eligible to vote in municipal town elections after she thought about running for a position on an elected town board, so she contacted Town Administrator Travis Ahern and Massachusetts State Representative James Arena-DeRosa. 

The issue was discussed for 40 minutes at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Select Board. 

“I think the reason this is picking up momentum right now is the whole process of getting a citizenship is much longer than it used to be,” said Gupta. “I myself, it took me 17 years to get me that Green Card, I’m still not a citizen…It’s become such a lengthy process that I see a need to make a change somewhere…so that’s the reason I wanted to push for it and see what we can do as a town.”  

Gupta said the town supporting this Home Rule legislation would send a message to the state that things need to change. 

“I think it’s worth the effort for the town to do to be able to go forward with it…to see what the state will do,” said Gupta, who is on the local Cultural Council which is not an elected position.  

Arena-DeRosa said he understood the premise of the proposed legislation. 

“There’s some common-sense piece to it. People that live in town that pay taxes that have kids that go to school, should they have more of a voice, I think it’s a fair question,” said Arena-DeRosa. “I think there’s some challenges to that…although at the end of the day it’s really up to Holliston and the community whether it wants to pursue anything.” 

Arena-DeRosa said that similar measures have been taken by seven other communities in the state but none of them have been approved by the Legislature, namely because it has been determined to be unconstitutional. 

“Here’s what’s going on at the state level. Legal counsel for the state, for the House of Representatives at least, has looked at this and determined that it’s not constitutional the way the Massachusetts Constitution is currently written. 

“If people in the community were to pursue it, and it made it all the way through and I filed, at this moment it would be more of an act of advocacy,” said Arena-DeRosa. “That’s not a commentary on whether or not it should be pursued, it’s just sort of a reality check of where we are right now.” 

Ahern said, “Regardless of the fact that we’ve learned where the state is on this, there is 

still interest in bringing it forward from the advocacy perspective to say, ‘The more towns that are interested in this, the more likely the Legislature moves’.” 

“Pursuing the Home Rule change is very interesting to me,” said Select Board member Damon Dimmick. “I live in an extremely diverse neighborhood, these really are my neighbors and my friends, and so many of them are extremely active in the community, obviously pay taxes, really the lifeblood of my neighborhood, so I’m eager to advance the conversation but I want it to be efficacious.” 

Arena-DeRosa noted a nearby town has decided that residents, even if they’re not U.S. citizens, can volunteer on non-elected committees. 

Select Board member Ben Sparrell supports the idea. “I think this is a great idea. I think it is very important that people who are members of the community should be able to participate in the community, I think this is something we should be pursuing.” 

Select Board Chair Tina Hein, who said she grew up in Holliston as a non-U.S. citizen from age 9 (until age 30), said, “The idea of living here in Holliston as a [non-citizen] is my own personal experience. I was living back in Holliston before I became a U.S. citizen so as an adult with my own home, paying my own taxes, I was a non-citizen…There’s a personal element for me as well; this is an important issue.” 

Concerns raised in the meeting centered around logistics related to the state’s voter registration system, making sure people only vote in one town (if they own property in several towns), covering any funding needed for any action, and how would local voting actually be put into effect. 

Hein said, “Our passion, our commitment, our desire to see a Home Rule petition, our success in passing that, does not influence the Legislature in how they respond, it does not prompt them.” 

Arena-DeRose confirmed that is accurate, adding “There’s still value in it.” 

Hein said the board would proceed with caution.

“To the extent that these are significant decisions, and this process done well is important…we would go carefully with significant deliberation,” said Hein. “I would anticipate public forums and certainly the sharing of a lot more information to go forward.” 

The board will discuss the matter again at a later date, and Gupta will consider adding a citizen’s petition to the town’s Oct. 21 fall town meeting.