TELL LAWMAKERS: SUPPORT ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY

TAKE ACTION NOW

During the pandemic, Massachusetts made several positive-but temporary-changes to state law, including increased voting accommodations and virtual access to public meetings. Together, these changes dramatically increased participation in elections and local government.

That's why we're urging lawmakers to support two bills that would make these changes permanent: The VOTES Act (HD1563; SD1002), and An Act to Modernize participation in public meetings (HD2828; SD2143).

The VOTES Act would make permanent many of the short-term reforms implemented for elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, including allowing all eligible voters to request a mail ballot and expanding early voting options. It would also establish same-day voter registration. The second bill would update the Commonwealth's Open Meeting Law to make virtual access permanent and routine.

Let's make sure our leaders support these crucial steps to make democracy accessible for all!

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As your constituent, I urge you to support two bills this session that will make democracy more accessible in the Commonwealth: The VOTES Act (HD1563; SD1002), filed by Rep. Lawn and Sen. Creem; and An Act to modernize participation in public meetings (HD2828; SD2143), filed by Rep. Garlick and Sen. Lewis.

Message Body

The VOTES Act offers us a chance to retain some of the highly successful-but temporary-changes the legislature made to election law in 2020: allowing all eligible voters to request a mail-in ballot and expanding early voting options. The bill would also build on these proven methods of increasing participation by establishing same-day registration and ensuring that eligible voters who are incarcerated are able to request a mail-in ballot and vote. The VOTES Act also creates a risk-limiting audit system for Massachusetts, considered "the gold standard" for ensuring election integrity, which is already in use in Colorado, Georgia, and Rhode Island. In short, it will make our elections more accessible, equitable, and secure.

Just as important as access to elections is the ability to follow and engage with our state and local government. That's why I also ask you to support Rep. Garlick and Sen. Lewis's bill, which would make permanent the provisions of Governor Baker's executive order that allowed virtual access to public meetings. For many people, family and work obligations, disability, or limited access to transport, make it impossible to attend meetings in person, and the innovations thrust upon us by the pandemic have been transformative.

This bill ensures that reasonable accommodations like routine virtual access remain available going forward. There's a lot from the past year that we should leave behind-but increased access to democracy is not one of them.

This past year has tested us all, and I thank you for doing everything you can to keep our government functioning smoothly under such difficult circumstances. I hope you'll help take some of the best lessons we learned in order to build a better, more accessible democracy for future generations.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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TELL LAWMAKERS: SUPPORT ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY

TAKE ACTION NOW

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