In January, the Senate passed an election laws bill. The bill is currently in conference committee with the House.
The Senate bill included essentially all of the proposals that have been floated recently to improve voter participation. Currently I’m receiving emails in the following form:
Massachusetts election system has become outdated. I’m writing today to ask you to urge the Election Laws Conference Committee to advance a comprehensive election modernization bill.
I hope that the bill advanced by the committee and ultimately sent to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law will include:
- Election Day registration
- Post- election audits of election equipment
- Pre-registration for 16 and 17 year-olds
- Permanent voter registration
- Online voter registration
- Early voting with weekend and evening hours
- Improved inactive voting procedures
Right now is our opportunity to improve the election experience for all Massachusetts voters – please urge the conference committee members to advance a comprehensive bill.
Thank you!
I’m all about ballot access and increasing engagement. I did vote for the Senate bill which includes most of these proposals. My main hope right now is that the conference committee will produce a sound and workable bill and I have to leave that to them. Most voters and candidates sort of show up for the wedding, but to make that party happen, someone has to do a lot of work. It’s a big job that our city and town election workers do to prepare for an election. I very much hope that whatever bill finally emerges is actually workable operationally.