{"id":219,"date":"2021-10-06T18:55:45","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T18:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/press-releases\/massachusetts-senate-passes-the-votes-act-overwhelmingly\/"},"modified":"2021-10-06T18:55:45","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T18:55:45","slug":"massachusetts-senate-passes-the-votes-act-overwhelmingly","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/press\/massachusetts-senate-passes-the-votes-act-overwhelmingly\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Senate Passes the VOTES Act Overwhelmingly"},"template":"","class_list":["post-219","press","type-press","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","press_type-press-release"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"The VOTES Act is strongly supported by the Massachusetts Election Modernization Coalition, an umbrella group working to modernize the Commonwealth\u2019s election laws. More than 100 grassroots organizations across the Bay State have endorsed the legislation.","featured_image":6143,"press_type":146,"authors":["{\"site_id\":\"1\",\"post_type\":\"person\",\"post_id\":7814}"],"related_issues":[100,107,109,462],"related_work":false,"location":24},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><b><i>As other state legislatures restrict the freedom to vote, Massachusetts advances a pro-voter bill<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This evening, the Massachusetts Senate voted 36-3<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0in favor of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Bills\/192\/S2545\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a comprehensive bill<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the VOTES Act, to improve voters\u2019 access to the ballot and ensure that the Commonwealth\u2019s elections are free and fair.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The legislation is based on bills filed by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Bills\/192\/HD1536\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Representative John Lawn<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Bills\/192\/SD1002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Senator Cynthia Creem<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and cosponsored by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/press-release\/marquee-voting-reform-law-gets-public-hearing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">more than 100 legislators<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The VOTES Act is strongly supported by the Massachusetts Election Modernization Coalition, an umbrella group working to modernize the Commonwealth\u2019s election laws. More than 100 grassroots organizations across the Bay State have endorsed the legislation.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Senate bill will:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">allow voters to cast ballots by mail, making permanently available the method of voting <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eac.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/document_library\/files\/2020_EAVS_Report_Final_508c.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">chosen by 41% of Massachusetts voters in last fall\u2019s election<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">expand options for in-person early voting, the method <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eac.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/document_library\/files\/2020_EAVS_Report_Final_508c.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">used by 23% of Massachusetts voters in last fall\u2019s election<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">make permanent several changes implemented during the pandemic, including ballot return drop-boxes and advance processing of mail ballots, to avoid delaying election results;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">implement same-day voter registration for both election day and early voting days, so that voters are not turned away because of mistakes in their registration, and voters who have moved recently can vote at their new addresses;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">fix the Automatic Voter Registration system to update voter registrations of people who interact with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHealth or the Commonwealth Health Connector;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">require the Secretary of State to send ballot applications for state and federal elections to all registered Massachusetts voters;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">direct the Secretary of State to create an online ballot application portal by July 1, 2022;<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ensure the Commonwealth will become a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) by July 1, 2022 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ericstates.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ERIC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is a non-profit organization of states that improves the accuracy of voter rolls);<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">guarantee that eligible incarcerated voters have access to ballots; and<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">make other changes to improve Massachusetts voters\u2019 access to ballots.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Massachusetts legislature is considering this pro-voter legislation at the same time other states are moving to make it harder for voters to cast ballots. So far this year,<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brennancenter.org\/our-work\/research-reports\/voting-laws-roundup-october-2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">19 states have enacted 33 laws<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that create barriers to the ballot, particularly for Black, Brown and low-income voters.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWith the Marathon coming up, let\u2019s just say we are truly grateful to the Senate for getting us to Rte 16 in Wellesley, and we look forward to crossing the finish line with the House,\u201d said <\/span><b>Janet Domenitz, director of MASSPIRG<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cOur democracy needs comprehensive reforms that center equity, remove barriers to voting, and modernize our elections,\u201d said <\/span><b>Geoff Foster, Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u201cThe VOTES Act does all of that and we\u2019re thrilled to see it pass the Senate and move to the House. We are confident with The Senate President and Speaker\u2019s commitment to election reform this session, a strong bill will reach Governor Baker\u2019s desk that makes our democracy more accessible and equitable.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts applauds the Senate for its action to improve access to the ballot in our state.\u00a0 We look forward to this bill becoming law and to Massachusetts setting an example for voting rights action in Congress,\" said <\/span><b>Patricia Comfort, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts.<\/b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cIn the Gateway Cities and Boston, only 66.3 % of residents cast their ballot in the 2020 election, compared to the 81% voter turnout in majority white municipalities,\u201d said <\/span><b>Beth Huang, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Voter Table<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, \u201cThe VOTES Act will lead to more equitable and accessible elections and we\u2019re excited to see it pass the Senate.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cVoting reforms need to prioritize racial equity. Same-day registration is proven to improve access to the ballot for people of color, and Massachusetts should not be behind 20 other states on that front,\u201d said <\/span><b>Rahsaan Hall, Racial Justice Program Director at the ACLU of Massachusetts.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that the Senate has taken this critical vote, and that more than half of the House sponsored the VOTES Act, putting same-day registration squarely on the state\u2019s election reform agenda this session.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"MassVOTE is thrilled to see the Senate take the key step of passing the VOTES Act today,\" <\/span><b>said Cheryl Clyburn Crawford, the Executive Director of MassVOTE. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"The VOTES Act will empower all Massachusetts voters, but especially Black and brown, low income, and immigrant individuals, who currently face numerous, unjust barriers to the ballot box. Key elements of the VOTES Act, like Same Day Registration will help address this. We look forward to partnering with the House of Representatives as this bill continues through the legislative process.\" <\/span>"}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Massachusetts Senate Passes the VOTES Act Overwhelmingly - Common Cause Massachusetts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/press-releases\/massachusetts-senate-passes-the-votes-act-overwhelmingly\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Massachusetts Senate Passes the VOTES Act Overwhelmingly\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/press\/massachusetts-senate-passes-the-votes-act-overwhelmingly\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Common Cause Massachusetts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Daves-House-Map.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1366\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1006\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/press-releases\/massachusetts-senate-passes-the-votes-act-overwhelmingly\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/massachusetts\/press-releases\/massachusetts-senate-passes-the-votes-act-overwhelmingly\/\",\"name\":\"Massachusetts Senate Passes the VOTES Act Overwhelmingly - 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