Democracy Wire

Over the coming weeks, we will break down the VOTES Act and do a deep dive to each reform this omnibus election bill includes. We’re kicking things off this week by taking a deeper dive into mail-in voting.

This brief details the 2020 Election Protection Program in Massachusetts, and those primary issues that arose on Election Day.

I ask you to support the protests and movement for Black Lives by donating to the following organizations, and to reading and sharing the resources below. If your health allows, I also encourage you to protest.

Our system of federalism has allowed states to implement policies that exacerbate inequality and hold our democracy back. But it also allows states to introduce and test innovative policies that could move us forward as a nation.

Massachusetts’ 20-day registration deadline is an unnecessary barrier to political participation. It exacerbates inequality and suppresses the kind of participatory and representative democracy that we have long talked about in the Commonwealth, but that has never actualized. Now, it is time we remove this dated deadline.

With Automatic Voter Registration, states’ elections are becoming more accessible, inclusive, and secure. However, there are some differences between the specific registration procedures and policies of each state with AVR.