Editor’s note: Massachusetts mayors, including Lynn Mayor Thomas M. McGee, addressed this letter to state Senate President Karen E. Spilka and Massachusetts House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.
Dear Senate President Spilka and Speaker DeLeo,
Voting is a fundamental right and is guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.
In the midst of a highly contagious infectious disease, we implore you to ensure safe and healthy ballot access in 2020.
We ask the state legislature to act with urgency in reviewing and passing a vote-by-mail program in Massachusetts for this election cycle.
Our constituents deserve the opportunity to exercise their right to vote without risk of exposure to a deadly virus. Every voter in the Commonwealth deserves a safe chance at participating in the democratic process, even through this extremely challenging time for our country.
In recent years with many safeguards available, vote by mail has become the gold standard for voter access and participation. There are many excellent programs across the country in states including Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. In response to COVID-19, more states have stepped forward, including New York, New Hampshire and Maryland, to ensure ballot access.
Massachusetts has always been a leader during challenging times for our country.The Commonwealth with the leadership of the Senate and House must lead again with ensuring safe, healthy, widely available ballot access by passing a vote by mail program.
In this time of pandemic, no one should be forced to choose between their health and their right to vote. Even Dr. Fauci is uncertain when this current surge will subside, with experts projecting possible recurrence in the fall just as voters head to the polls for the statewide September 1 primary and the November 3 general election.
As Mayors serving 22 cities we see Vote by Mail as the best chance our constituents and Commonwealth have to protect the integrity of our 2020 elections and the health of our voters. Thank you for your urgent consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Newton
Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Gloucester
Mayor Kim Driscoll, Salem
Mayor John J Leahy, Lowell
Mayor Joseph M. Petty, Worcester
Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, Easthampton
Mayor Paul Brodeur, Melrose
Mayor William Reichelt, West Springfield
Mayor David Narkewicz, Northampton
Mayor Daniel Rivera, Lawrence
Mayor Yvonne Spicer, Framingham
Mayor Donna Holaday, Newburyport
Mayor Jon Mitchell, New Bedford
Mayor Neil Perry, Methuen
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, Greenfield
Mayor Thomas Bernard, North Adams
Mayor Paul Coogan, Fall River
Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Cambridge
Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr., Everett
Mayor Kassandra Gove, Amesbury
Mayor Linda Tyer, Pittsfield
Mayor Thomas McGee, Lynn
