Here we are in another presidential election year full of ads, debates, primaries, and yard signs for the various politicians running for the highest office in the land.
It seems like every election year, voters gain new levels of enthusiasm and become more civically engaged, but lose this sense of involvement post-election.
There is an alarming trend gripping much of the United States on the municipal, state, and national levels, occurring here in Massachusetts as well; voter turnout levels which are gradually decreasing. Lower levels of voter turnout in local and state elections should trouble us all because these elections have more of an impact on the daily lives of residents in Massachusetts.
Civic engagement is a core value of our nation and is why we are founded off the concept of a government represented by and for the people. How can our elected officials carry out legislation that will directly impact our lives if limited numbers of eligible voters actually turn out to cast their ballots?
Thankfully, I believe there is a remedy to this problem in legislation currently in committee on Beacon Hill called Election Day Registration (EDR).
EDR (House 636 and 685 and Senate 396) have the ability to reshape civic engagement in Massachusetts once implemented by creating a more efficient, more inclusive electoral process. EDR will allow eligible voters to register to vote on Election Day, eliminating the 20-day registration deadline that currently prevents hundreds, if not thousands, of eligible voters from speaking their mind.
Additionally, EDR would give already registered voters the ability to fix any issues that may currently prevent them from voting, like a misspelled name or incorrect address. This is why EDR in many ways is another example of common sense legislation that many residents in Massachusetts can’t believe we haven’t already implemented.
If legislators make EDR law, Massachusetts would join more than 20 other states that already have EDR and would see a drastic increase in voter turnout, with many estimates predicting up to 5 percent growth in turnout on average.
With the support of Attorney General Maura Healey and Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, we are that much closer to growing the electorate in Massachusetts and making the voting process more inclusive and accessible. Secretary Galvin states, ” Allowing voters to register on Election Day is the next step in our successful effort to expand access to the ballot. EDR is yet another way to make it easier to cast a ballot for any eligible citizen who wants to vote.”
If you support EDR and believe like me that this legislation is the best way to ensure our elections will be more inclusive and representative of the population, please reach out to your state representative and senator and urge them to support EDR. In my case, I am urging Representative Wong and Senator Crighton to back this legislation!
Cullen Dunnigan
Lynn
