MassVOTE supports legislation to modernize election laws, increase civic engagement, safeguard the accuracy of election results, save money, and to create a more participatory democracy.
Pre-Registration {Senate Bill} {House Bill}
: Allows 16 and 17 year-olds to pre-register so they are ready to vote the day they turn 18, reducing the rush of October registrations that require costly temporary staff.
Online Registration {Senate Bill}
Lets citizens register online if they have a signature in the Registry of Motor Vehicles database. Processing online registrations costs 95% less than entering hand-written forms.
Permanent Registration {Senate Bill} {House Bill}
Updates the voter registration list the same way businesses update their mailing lists, using data from the US Postal Service and the Registry of Motor Vehicles to make sure people are registered where they actually live – helping young people and renters stay registered.
Election Day Registration: {Senate Bill} {House Bill}
Lets citizens register on Election Day.
Election Audits {Senate Bill} {House Bill}
: In most states, random audits ensure that machines used to count paper ballots are accurate… but here, except in a handful of recounts, the machines’ count is never checked. Federal funds will pay for the Commonwealth to adopt this common-sense safeguard to check a small percentage of randomly selected precincts in federal election years.
Civics: {Senate Bill}
Advocating for a pilot Civics curriculum based on organizing, voting, and social justice principles as a first step towards making Civics a requirement of high school graduation.
Corporate Political Accountability: {Senate Bill}
Campaigns should be about candidates, parties, and, most of all, people. Not corporations. In the wake of the Citizens’ United decision, we need much better disclosure of corporate campaign expenditures. Shareholders deserve a say in corporate political activities.
Other Issues of Interest
Instant Run-off Voting in Congressional Elections
Instant Run-off Voting in City or Town Elections
Fair Access to the Central Registry of Voters
Paper Ballots in All Massachusetts Elections
