MA Coronavirus: Towns Can Delay Local Elections

BOSTON, MA — The state senate will give cities and towns the power to delay local elections scheduled for this spring, Senate President Karen Spilka said.

The senate will take up action on the emergency rules Monday. Several towns have already asked state officials to modify rules or delay elections to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

"The Senate has determined that moving forward with traditional elections at this time would put our voters, election workers, volunteers and others in our cities and towns at excessive risk," Spilka said in a statement.

The measure will also give local governments the option to modify rules to conduct elections as scheduled with mail-in ballots. Spilka said the senate will also look to delay special elections to fill vacant state Senate seats that had been scheduled for March 31.

"The right to vote is one that the Massachusetts State Senate cherishes and wishes to protect," Spilka said. "We hope that the actions we take now will help ensure the integrity of our elections as this public health crisis evolves."