THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022 Page 15 cost of repairing roads has increased by up to 40 percent while the state has kept this funding fl at at $200 million for the past 11 years. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes 2924) House 126-29, Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a conference committee version of a bill making permanent the mail-in and early voting options used in Massachusetts in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The House and Senate had approved diff erent versions of the bill and a conference committee hammered out this compromise version which did not include the section allowing same day voter registration that was in the Senate version but not in the House one. The measure requires the secretary of state to send out mailin ballot applications, with return postage guaranteed, to registered voters before each presidential primary, state primary and biennial state election. It also allows registered voters to request a mail-in ballot for all elections in a single calendar year. Other provisions include reducing the registration blackout period from 20 days prior to an election to 10 days; electronic voting options for voters with disabilities and military service members; allowing a voter with disabilities to request accommodations including an accessible electronic ballot application, ballot and voter affi davit that can be submitted electronically; ensuring that non-felons who are incarcerated who are currently eligible to vote are provided with voting information and materials to exercise their right to vote; and requiring the secretary of state to conduct a comprehensive public awareness campaign to publicize the new voting and registration options. “I’m proud to see the [bill] pass in the House and make its way to the governor’s desk,” said Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Senate Chair of the Committee on Election Laws and the co-sponsor of the bill. “When more people participate in voting, democracy wins.” “I am concerned about the amount of money we are spending mailing out mailin ballot applications when there are plenty of ways a voter can request a mail-in ballot if they want one,” said Rep. Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), the only Democrat to vote against the measure. “I would rather see these funds go to something Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ELECTION LAW CHANGES (S more productive like free IDs so that everyone has an ID to vote, open bank accounts and get certain medications that require IDs. We are also putting a tremendous amount of work on our town clerks, especially in our smaller communities like in my district.” “We are thrilled that both the House and Senate have voted in support of the [bill],” said the group MassVOTE. “Even though this version of [the bill] does lack a provision we have long supported—Election Day Registration—we are very glad to see that popular pro-voter policies like mail-in voting, expanded early voting and jail-based voting are included, and will soon become law.” “As a general rule, we should be promoting voting in person - LEGAL NOTICE - and on Election Day,” said Paul Craney, spokesman for the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “Anytime a voter loses control of their ballot before it’s given to an election offi cial, it’s possible it could be lost BEACON | FROM PAGE 14 ADVERTISEMENT The Everett Housing Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from Contractors for the Generator Replacement project at the Glendale Towers Building, 667-2 for the Everett Housing Authority in Everett Massachusetts, in accordance with the documents prepared by Nangle Engineering Inc. The Project consists of: The replacement of the existing interior generator with a new exterior generator, Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.149 §44A-J & to minimum wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.149 §§26 to 27H inclusive. the category of Electrical. www.Projectdog.com not be accepted by the Awarding Authority. For E-Bid Tutorial and Instructions, download the Supplemental Instructions To Bidders for Electronic Bid Projects from www.Projectdog.com. www.Projectdog.com, Projectdog, Inc., to cover mail handling costs. The job site and/or existing building will be available for observation on the morning of Thursday, July 7, 2022. held. Bidders must contact Nangle Engineering Inc. (gpnangle@nangleengineering.com prior to close of business on the Monday prior to schedule an appointment. Bidders attending will be limited to time. No access to dwelling units is required, or allowed. bids. Questions after that time may not be responded to, at the sole discretion of the designer. The Everett Housing Authority reserves the right to waive any informalities in or to reject any and all bids, or Sundays and legal holidays excluded, after approval of the award by the Everett Housing Authority without written consent of the Everett Housing Authority. Stephen Kergo June 24, 2022
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