Fighting for ballot access: Sen. Creem's VOTES Act moves forward

With the Legislature expected this week to extend voting-by-mail through mid-December, a more comprehensive election reform bill filed by Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem advanced out of committee July 19, and Democratic leaders are eyeing action in the Senate as soon as the fall.

More:Sen. Creem files legislation to increase voter participation

Creem, a Newton Democrat, filed the legislation (S 459) this session. The bill, known as the VOTES Act (An Act Fostering Voting Opportunities, Trust, Equity, and Security), has been co-sponsored by more than half of the House and the Senate.

More:Sen. Creem’s early voting amendment passes Senate

The VOTES Act would:

• Make mail-in voting a permanent option for all voters in Massachusetts before every election
• Legalize same-day voter registration
• Expand early in-person voting
• Improve access to voting for eligible incarcerated residents

More:Women politicians representing Newton give perspectives on sexism

A version of the bill (H. 805) was also filed in the House by Rep. John Lawn, who also represents Newton. It would enshrine some of the voting reforms adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, including no-excuse voting by mail and expanded in-person early voting.

Creem answered more detailed questions on the genesis of the VOTES Act.

Why did you decide to file the VOTES Act and why do you think it is important to take action and approve it now?

Ensuring access to the ballot is critical to our democracy, and I have always been supportive of legislation to remove unnecessary barriers to voting. I was the lead sponsor of the Automatic Voter Registration law and have been filing Election Day Registration legislation for a number of sessions. 

The VOTES Act is comprehensive legislation to expand and increase voter participation and modernize our election registration system, and I was pleased to file it with the support of the Election Modernization Coalition. Passage of the VOTES Act would stand in stark contrast to regressive and restrictive voter laws being passed in other states, and it is critical to ensuring that every eligible voter has access to the ballot.

Do you have any concerns that anti-voting bills could be enacted in Massachusetts?

I do not see Massachusetts taking a step backwards in voting rights like we are seeing in certain states. I am more concerned that we could miss this opportunity to move Massachusetts to the forefront of progressive voting rights.

What are your thoughts on the fact that the three Republican members of the Joint Committee on Elections Laws voted against moving the VOTES Act forward?

I haven’t spoken with those members of the Joint Committee, but I am aware of some opposition from persons who have raised unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud due to mail-in voting.

Are there any other voting rights measures you think should or could be included in the final version of the bill?

While I understand that the legislative process always entails some compromise, I am hopeful that the full VOTES Act will become law. Along with the expanded access provided through mail-in voting, early voting and same day registration, the provisions to expand post-election audits and update our election rolls are also critical to making our voting system stronger, more secure, and more equitable.

What happens with the VOTES Act now?

As you noted, the Joint Committee on Election Laws moved the full VOTES Act favorably out of committee. This is a critical first step and I anticipate a full debate on the bill in the fall.

Matt Murphy of State House News Service contributed to this report.