Lawrence, MA – The Election Modernization Coalition condemns Lawrence City Council’s decision to deny voters the ability to vote by mail in the November 2025 municipal election.

On September 19 after 5 p.m., the Lawrence City Council voted to deny Lawrence voters the ability to cast a ballot by mail. This last-minute decision came hours before a 45-day deadline that allows municipalities to opt out of offering vote-by-mail for local elections, and just days after successfully offering mail voting during the city’s preliminary election.

The coalition issued the following statement:

“The Lawrence City Council’s decision to opt out of vote by mail for the 2025 municipal election is a step backward for voter access and a frustrating move for many residents who rely on securely voting by mail. Communities of color already face disproportionate barriers to voting, and this action only makes things worse. This decision was made with little public input, and such a last-minute change only adds confusion and undermines confidence in the election process. The council should commit to consistent, transparent election policies that allow all voters to easily and securely cast their ballots.”

The Election Modernization Coalition includes the ACLU of Massachusetts, Common Cause Massachusetts, Disability Law Center of MA, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, Lawyers for Civil Rights, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, MassVOTE, Massachusetts Voter Table, MASSPIRG, and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

Learn more about the coalition at www.votingrightsma.org.

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