Left In Lowell

Elections do matter, and so do the strange requirements that often prevent people from voting. Right now, you have to register (or reregister, if you’ve moved) nearly a month (20 days) ahead of any election. There’s a bill in the state legislature to create election-day registration, such as many other states have implemented. But it’s coming up for a make-or-break committee vote soon.

It’s easy, however, to do something about it. You can write to your Rep via Act for Change, or you can click here and find your Rep’s or Senator’s info.

From Act for Change:

The Massachusetts legislature is poised to make history in the coming weeks. A bill to allow Election Day Registration (EDR) — a measure that would protect every eligible citizen’s right to vote — is about to face a do-or-die committee vote. If it passes out of committee, it will be well on its way to becoming the law of the land.

Increasing civic participation is good for our democracy. Allowing registration on Election Day makes voting easier and brings people into the electoral process who are often excluded — like students, renters, low-income people, and those who have recently moved. We need a groundswell of support for this legislation from the public to pass it into law.

So, do you love democracy? Then call or write your own Rep and Senator and (politely) ask them to help get this bill to come out of committee.

Also: A list of the members of the Joint Committee on Election Laws:
Augustus of Second Worcester - Chair
Spilka of Second Middlesex and Norfolk -Vice-Chair
Baddour of First Essex
Morrissey of Norfolk and Plymouth
Creedon of Second Plymouth and Bristol
Brown of Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

Bradley of Hingham - Chair
Atsalis of Barnstable -Vice-Chair
Casey of Winchester
Galvin of Canton
Quinn of Dartmouth
Kujawski of Webster
Eldridge of Acton
Driscoll of Braintree
Allen of Boston
Frost of Auburn
Rogeness of Longmeadow