Voting Rights

Pam Wilmot, director of Common Cause Massachusetts, said having a vote-by-mail option would not preclude people from voting in person on Election Day. "If we prepare in advance and have 70-80 percent of our voters voting by mail there is an ability, with expanded early voting especially, to have a slighly different model of in-person voting," Wilmot said.

"We all have obligations to democracy, even in the middle of a public health crisis, and this emergency change will make it easier for voters to have our voices heard," says Executive Director Pam Wilmot. "But this is just a first step...We look forward to working with the General Court again, in the near future, to make changes necessary for all Massachusetts voters to participate safely in the fall elections."

Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation allowing cities and towns to postpone municipal elections scheduled for this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there are already calls for Beacon Hill to consider additional steps.

"Yesterday’s bill is a strong first step. However, there is no guarantee that the coronavirus crisis will have receded by September 1, when Massachusetts state primaries are scheduled, or even for the November elections,” a press release attributed to seven voting rights groups read.“

“Yesterday's bill is a strong first step. However, there is no guarantee that the coronavirus crisis will have receded by September 1, when Massachusetts state primaries are scheduled, or even for the November elections,” the groups said. “The Election Modernization Coalition urges the Legislature to recognize that this crisis is of indeterminate length, and that we must also act quickly to ensure that the fall’s elections take place as scheduled, maximize participation, and maintain public health.

Advocates say the coronavirus outbreak could make it difficult for some people to keep their voter registrations up to date.