Ballot Access Bill Passes Massachusetts Senate

By Erin Ferns Lee January 17, 2014
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SCOTUS

The Massachusetts Senate overwhelmingly approved an omnibus election bill that would improve access to the ballot yesterday.

If enacted, Massachusetts would join 30 states that allow citizens to vote in person in advance of Election Day and 19 states that provide the opportunity to electronically submit voter registration applications. The bill, SB 1975 passed by a vote of 37-1.

The Senate bill is similar to a House bill that passed the House last November. The Senate bill, as advocacy group Demos points out, also includes expansive voter registration policies, including Same Day Registration and preregistration for 16- and 17-year olds.

The two bills will go into conference committee. If a compromise is reached, it will go to Governor Deval Patrick’s desk for signature. If approved, it would go into effect for the 2016.

“Massachusetts will now be a leader in engaging voters rather than lagging behind the rest of the country,” said Pam Wilmot, executive director of nonpartisan organization, Common Cause Massachusetts.

“The time has come to make these election modernizations,” said Sen. Barry Finegold, D-Andover. “Early voting, preregistration, and online voter registration will make our elections more accessible by expanding access and participation in our elections.”

Learn more about Early Voting, Online Voter Registration, Same Day Registration, and Preregistration at www.projectvote.org.

Photo by jpellgen via Creative Commons.