The Big Voter ID Battle Could Hit MA Next: The HUB

The HUB is a daily newsletter designed for what you want — to be caught up on the most interesting, important news in 5 minutes or less. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, but if there's something you want more or less of, email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com.

Today is Wednesday, July 7. Let's get started.

So, how do you feel about voter IDs?

Massachusetts Republicans are spearheading an effort to allow voters to decide whether they'll need to present identification to cast ballots. MassGOP Chairman Jim Lyons announced the push this weekend, saying the only way to get voter IDs into the local conversation is to get in on the 2022 ballot.

Today we'll do things a bit differently and answer some questions about voter IDs.

What are voter IDs?

First, it's important to understand that organizers will need to propose specific language for the ballot question proposal. But the general definition of voter identification laws is requiring voters to show some sort of identification in order to vote.

Every state has different rules about this. So while Massachusetts doesn't require most registered voters to present an ID, residents in a state like Arizona need to show some form of ID and in a state like Georgia must present a photo ID.

Why has everyone been talking about them?

You've probably heard a lot about voter IDs in the past year, with chatter ramping up ahead of the November election and eventually becoming one of the key pegs former President Trump hung his baseless claims of election fraud on.

But it's a whole lot more than that. Democrats last month tried to pass the For The People Act, a sweeping piece of voting reform legislation that would have, among other things, essentially neutered individual states' voting ID requirements. The bill died before even reaching the Senate floor.

Are voter ID laws good or bad?

Depends on who you ask, of course.

Opponents say voter ID requirements are just another form of voter suppression enacted by Republicans to make it harder for minorities to vote. (Minority voters disproportionately lack voter IDs, according to the ACLU.)

Supporters say voter ID requirements add a layer of security to our elections and it shouldn't be a burden for voters to provide valid identification.

What do Massachusetts residents want?

Tough to say, but there are signs there is broad support for voter ID requirements. Lyons pointed to a recent Monmouth University poll that showed 4 out of 5 Americans support requiring IDs to vote, and that includes 61 percent of Democrats.

What's next?

We wait. The proposal must be filed by Aug. 4 along with 10 signatures from registered voters just to get started, according to State House News Service. That signature requirement will increase by some 80,000 for an early December deadline.

We at the Hub are big fans of the mandatory mask policy on the MBTA. I mean, good Lord, have you ever come back from a Sox game on the Green Line? But it remains unclear what the MBTA really thinks of it. An MBTA official said during Tuesday's Green Line Extension meeting the mandate "could be changing shortly," according to Nik DeCosta-Klipa at Boston.com. An MBTA spokesperson then said the official misspoke and no change is imminent.

Show me the money. With just a couple months left until the Boston mayoral preliminary election, Acting Mayor Kim Janey finished June with by far the biggest fundraising haul of any candidate. Sean Philip Cotter at The Boston Herald has more on the candidates' financial situations as we head down the stretch.

"I believe it's time for a fresh start." So do we. N'Keal Harry's agent requested the Patriots trade his client, the team's 2019 first-round draft pick who has been a major bust in his time with New England. Harry has plummetted down the team's depth chart after 45 catches, 414 yards and 4 touchdowns in two seasons. His agent's social media post blaming the Patriots for his struggles after a productive college career isn't a great look.

A national look

The Department of Defense is walking away from a $10 billion contract with Microsoft for cloud services due to the possibility of an investigation into whether former President Trump meddled in the process. (New York Times)

Popular ESPN host Rachel Nichols apologized on air after a story detailing a recorded conversation in which she complained about how a female colleague got a position at the sports network because she is Black. Nichols, who is white, was removed as sideline reporter for the NBA Finals, which started Tuesday night. (NBC News)

Hurricane Elsa was being felt in Florida, where the storm was continuing its trek north. The storm is expected to make itself known in parts of Georiga, the Carolinas and Virginia over the next 24 hours. (The Weather Channel)

A lighter touch

Adam Gaffin at Universal Hub said it better than I ever could: "Good news, Southie: Hollywood finally making a movie about you that doesn't involve ruthless, bloodthirsty gangsters."

What I'm reading today: My colleague Chris Huffaker spoke with the mother of the Black boy who was falsely accused of shooting a Woburn man in the neck last month. You've got to read this one.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. At night — Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Have a swell Wednesday.

You can email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow me @PatchCarraggi.