Upgrading the Vote in Massachusetts

UPDATE: Bad news--this great reform package died in the last days of the session. Let's not let that happen next session. keep on those legislators.

ACTION NEEDED ON GOOD ELECTION REFORM / TIME SENSITIVE!
shortlink to this page: http://hmny.me/elexnreform2012
If we want to change our country's politics, we need to have a plan for long-term change, and that means growing the voting base for elections in the future. Conservatives would have you believe that "liberals" want to do this by sneaking "illegals" into the polls, have dead people vote, and otherwise committing mass voter fraud. That both illogical and ridiculous.

Remember hanging chads?

What we need to do is engage the people who will be future voters (young people), bring back to the process those who need to update their voting status (people who have changed addresses, students, new residents), engage those who have dropped out of the process (the cynical/apathetic), and be guaranteed that our elections are sound--that every vote is counted (no hanging chads).

There is a good election reform bill on Beacon Hill that has passed the House--but is currently waiting on the Senate. With only 5 odd weeks left in the session, if the Senate doesn't act quickly, this good Election Reform bill will die--and we won't have a chance to implement these NEEDED reforms before November elections. That's why you need to call your State Senator TODAY.



Here's what the bill (H4139) would do if passed (info from MassVote): 

• Mandate random post-election audits to ensure that voting machines are working correctly and that your vote is counted accurately.
• Let 16 and 17-year-olds pre-register to vote in Civics classes, youth groups, at the RMV, or their city or town hall, greatly increasing the number who will actually vote when they turn 18.
• Let voters download and print out voter registration forms.
• Improve training of election officers so they can better protect every citizen's right to vote

This is important.

I wrote to State Senator Ross last week, and received a less than encouraging reply (appended at the end of this post).  As you can see, he needs to hear from constituents on this. I am sending a follow-up email today:

Dear Senator Ross, 

Thank you very much for your June 18 email response.  As youknow, there are less than six weeks left in the formal session beforethe Legislature recesses for the year.  Election reform advocates,including many young people, have now been working for over two yearson this common sense election reform measure to make it easier forMassachusetts voters to register to vote. 

While I appreciate that you are considering supporting the bill, as your constituent I'm writing to you today to ask more of you, by publicly advocating that the election reform bill be brought up for avote on the Senate floor.  Please express your public support of the bill, including sending a letter to the Senate President so that you and your Senate colleagues may vote on this important measure.  

I hope that you agree with me that when it comes to making it easierfor people to vote in Massachusetts, it is not a partisan issue.  I admire your support for other bi-partisan bills, like the Bottle Bill,and hope that you show continued leadership by advocating for thismeasure, too. 

Feel free to use this as a template for an email of your own! As you get feedback/responses, consider posting here, as a "comment" to this blog post. 

This stuff works, if enough of us do it. So get on the phone, send an email today.

You can use the MassVote action tool to send an email, or contact your senator directly. If you are not in Needham, find your State Senator here.  If you are in Needham, the contact info is below:

NEEDHAM*: State Senator Richard Ross
State House: Room 520, Boston, MA 02133
Phone:617-722-1555
Fax:617-722-1054
Email: Richard.Ross@masenate.gov

If you are in Needham Precincts D-H, you can also contact State Senator Rush, into whose district (Norfolk and Suffolk) we are being redistricted come the fall.

Mike Rush (Needham Precincts D E F G H)
Room 519
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617-722-1348
Fax: 617-722-1071
Email: Mike.Rush@masenate.gov

______
Response from State Senator Ross, re: my inquiry about election reform bill: 

Hello Harmony,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding House Bill 4139, An Act Reforming Election Laws. I appreciate learning of your support for this legislation.

I understand that H.4139 includes various reforms to Massachusetts’ election process, including allowing teenagers to pre-register, requiring training of elections officials and establishing online voter registration, among others. 

As you know this legislation was recently passed by the House of Representatives. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind should it come before the Senate for a formal vote.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Ross / State Senator