Landmark Voting Reform Bill Clears Massachusetts Senate

BOSTON — The Senate voted to approve a final version of the VOTES Act this week, bringing Massachusetts one step closer to passing landmark voting reforms.

A committee filed its final report on the bill earlier this week, combining the Senate's proposed voter opportunities bill and the House's proposed amendments to it.

The final version of the VOTES Act permanently adopts the mail-in and early voting options used in 2020; increases ballot access for uniformed and overseas service members, incarcerated voters and voters with disabilities; and gives towns across the Commonwealth the option to set up secure drop boxes for mail-in ballots.

Some critics of the new version of the bill say it's a missing key provision that would allow qualified residents to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day. 21 states across the U.S., including New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, have implemented same-day voter registration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"Although same-day registration did not make it into the final legislation," Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem said, "This bill is a big step in the right direction and I look forward to filing legislation on the subject going forward."

The final VOTES Act report now moves to the House for consideration.