Currently, the Commonwealth does not allow early voting, nor does it allow residents to vote absentee without a certain excuse. Voters can’t register online, and for anyone who hasn’t registered to vote within 20 days of the election, they are barred from casting a ballot.
On Thursday 01/16/2014, the Senate passed an omnibus bill that would significantly expand voting rights in the Commonwealth.
The bill, H. 3788, makes a number of changes:
- It allows for a week of early voting beginning 10 days prior to an election.
- It creates an online voter registration system.
- It permits 16 and 17 year-olds to preregister to vote.
- It allows residents to register to vote on Election Day.
The bill passed the Senate by a 37-1 vote.
It is very similar. though not identical, to one that passed the House by a 141-10 vote last year.
That bill allowed:
- Early voting during Presidential elections. Voters could cast ballots at polling places in their cities or towns up to two weeks before a Presidential election, excluding weekends. Early voting would begin for the 2016 election.
- Online voter registration.
A conference committee will be called to iron out differences between the two bills, but given the overwhelming margins of passage in each chamber and Gov. Deval Patrick’s support, final passage seems close.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
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