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Baker signs automatic voter registration bill

New law could add thousands of eligible voters to register in time for 2020 election.

Catherine McGloin
Baker signs automatic voter registration bill
Gov. Baker had a busy week, passing more than 50 pieces of legislation tackling a wide range of issues, including voter reform, drug treatment and renewable energy. Photo: wikimedia commons

Automatic voter registration is coming to Massachusetts just in time for the 2020 presidential election, thanks to a bill signed by Governor Charlie Baker in a burst of activity on Beacon Hill last week.

The new legislation will automatically add thousands of eligible residents to the voting register when they visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles, or sign up for MassHealth or the Health Connector program, making Massachusetts the 14th state to adopt such a measure.

“We are thrilled with the legislation,” said Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, a member of the broad-based coalition that pushed for the bill, alongside the ACLU, MassVote, the League of Women Voters and more than 60 other advocacy groups.

Win for democracy

“It is one of the strongest in the country and will make our voter registrations system more efficient, accurate and secure while at the same time improving voter participation,” said Wilmot. “In these times, all of these goals are particularly important.”

Rahsaan Hall, director of ACLU’s Racial Justice Program, echoed Wilmot’s sentiments. “It is important to increase access to the democratic process,” he said, adding that he hopes the bill will impact groups that have historically shown low voter participation rates, such as young people and communities of color.

Common Cause Assistant Director Devon Nir said that while it is “reform for all,” this bill should also help increase participation specifically among hard-to-reach communities, military families and renters who relocate regularly and fail to re-register or update their address.

Ahead to 2020

Exactly how many people will be brought onto the electoral register by this new law is unknown, but judging by results in other states where automatic registration has been implemented, the number of new voters could be substantial.

In Oregon, the first state to pass automatic voter registration, 375,000 people were added to the roster during the first 18 months of the program, while in California, the Department of Motor Vehicles signed up nearly 800,000 residents in the first three months.

For advocates, the timing of this bill could not have been better.

“We’re really pleased that we got it done in time for the 2020 presidential election,” said Nir. “This was our last chance.” She and other supporters hope the bill will eliminate some of the barriers to voting and mobilize residents to get to the polls in two years’ time.

For Gov. Baker, signing this bill marked the culmination of a very busy week. He passed 52 other important pieces of legislation in the first full week of August, covering issues ranging from the state’s opioid crisis to renewable energy.

Despite legislative progress, voting rights campaigners say they will continue to strive for greater change as 2020 approaches.

The law is currently partnered with only three state agencies, but does allow the secretary of state to make agreements with other organizations. Expanding the state’s reach to even more eligible voters by extending these contracts is a vital next step.

Advocates will also be focusing on election day registration in the coming months.

“We’re going to continue to push for voter reform,” said Nir, “and making sure our democracy is safe and secure, and that we have an election process in which everyone can participate.”

civic engagement, voting