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Health & Fitness

Election Reform Bill Passes Senate

BOSTON – Senator Brian A. Joyce joined his colleagues in the Senate in passing a bill that will make a number of changes to Massachusetts’ election laws that will make voting easier and more accessible for residents while maintaining ethics and accountability in the elections process.

“Free and fair elections are critical to a healthy state and these reforms will engage more voters in the process without sacrificing accountability,” said Joyce. “It is long overdue that the elections process embrace new and secure technology to make voting more accessible to all residents.”

Primarily, the bill would require the Secretary of the Commonwealth to create an online voter registration system; allow 16 and 17 year olds to pre-register to vote; institute a 10-day early voting period for biennial state elections and primaries; provide same day registration, and; create an elections task force to oversee these changes to ensure they are not putting an undue burden on municipalities and are maintaining the integrity of elections.

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