We all need to do more to ensure that, when it comes to our elections, everyone participates and everyone's voice is heard. Only then can we create a democracy that’s more fully of, by and for the people.
In light of Sunshine Week 2022, MASSPIRG joined with civic, community, disability and news organizations in calling on the Governor's Council to maintain the same level of public access to their meetings that the people of Massachusetts have depended on over the last two years. Earlier this week the Governor's Council announced they were discontinuing online streaming of their meetings.
Governor Baker vetoed $30 million for grants to expand remote and hybrid access to public meetings in municipalities throughout Massachusetts.
The new VOTES Act, signed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker on June 22, will permanently change several of Massachusetts’ election laws.
The Massachusetts VOTES Act Conference Committee today released its version of the comprehensive election reform bill, which will now head to the House and Senate for final procedural votes before being sent to Governor Baker’s desk.
In Massachusetts’ 2020 general election, almost 60% of provisional ballots were not counted, according to election data from the Secretary of State’s office. Of the 4,323 provisional ballots issued in the 2020 statewide election, 2,587 ballots were rejected. A ‘provisional ballot’ is provided to someone who shows up at the polls on Election Day, assuming they are registered, but are told they are not currently on the voter list at the precinct.
