Massachusetts Senate Eyes Landmark Voting Reform

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate will take up a bill in the coming days that would overhaul the state's election process, with changes like making vote-by-mail permanent and expanding early voting options, the Senate announced Wednesday.

The landmark VOTES Act is the work of a committee formed to combine the Senate's proposed voter opportunities bill and the House's proposed amendments to it.

In addition to permanently adopting mail-in voting, the bill would make voting more accessible to uniformed and overseas service members, incarcerated voters and voters with disabilities. It would also give towns across the Commonwealth the option to set up secure drop boxes for mail-in ballots.

"Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and Massachusetts must be a leader in defending this sacred right," Senate President Karen Spilka said. "We must ensure that every eligible voter ... is fully able to exercise their right to vote."