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But the bills face a looming Feb. 5 deadline — known as Joint Rule 10 — to report them favorably out of legislative committees to be considered in the current two-year session. Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, one of the groups pushing for the changes, said lawmakers are running out of time.”

"Election Day registration will help protect the fundamental right of every American to have their vote counted," Wilmot told a gathering of volunteers who visited the Statehouse on Tuesday to lobby for the bills. "It's a fail-safe to allow eligible voters to cast their ballots. It has been working well for 40 years across the country."

Assistant Director at Common Cause Massachusetts, Kristina Mensik, says currently voters must comply with a 20-day cutoff for voter registration which deprives residents of their right to vote each election cycle.

Kristina Mensik, assistant director of nonprofit election advocacy group Common Cause Massachusetts, said with the current voting age at 18, many citizens gain their suffrage just as they are moving out of their home. . .

"Ten states have passed automatic voter registration laws, including Oregon. After implementing the system, Oregon to added over 230,000 new voters to the rolls within six months and had more than 97,000 new voters participate in the 2016 election. Massachusetts advocates hope to implement the system here and give more people a voice in government."

"The Supreme Judicial Court will consider a challenge to a Massachusetts law that requires voters to register at least 20 days before an election. It will also consider a separate case challenging a campaign finance law that prohibits businesses from making political contributions."