Issues and Action

Please contact Senate President Robert Travaglini right away

(617-722-1500, RTravagl@senate.state.ma.us)

and urge him to hold a vote to

remove restrictions on absentee voting (S.2034)

at the May 10^th Constitutional Convention.

• Many reasons may prevent today’s busy citizens from making it to the polls on Election Day:  business travel, working two jobs or working late, caring for children or elderly relatives.

• Voting is a right, not a privilege.  We must make it easy for all citizens to cast their ballots.

• 24 other states facilitate this by allowing anyone to cast an absentee ballot for any reason.

• The Massachusetts Constitution allows absentee voting under only three conditions, if the voter is: away from his city or town, ill or disabled, or has a religious objection.

• Endorsed by the Chairs of the Election Laws Committee, S.2034 would simply remove restrictions on absentee voting from the constitution.  The procedures for absentee voting would remain the same.

Because restrictions on absentee voting are written into the Massachusetts Constitution, the only way to remove them is via a constitutional amendment.  This will require favorable votes in Constitutional Conventions in two subsequent sessions, followed by a ballot referendum. 

If we get a favorable vote on S.2034 on May 10, we could have it on the ballot by 2008.  If no vote is taken, we will have to wait until 2010.

The process is long enough – let’s not delay it by another 2 years.   Please urge the Senate President to hold a vote on absentee voting on May 10!

More information on absentee voting