Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 10, 2020 DiDomenico and McGonagle announce new law to safeguard 2020 elections S tate Senator Sal DiDomenico and State Representative Joseph McGonagle recently announced the passage of legislation to expand Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 voter access and ensure voters have safe voting options for all remaining 2020 elections, including the September 1 state primary and November 3 general election, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. An Act relative to voting options in response to COVID-19, for the first time in state history, would establish a voteby-mail option and early voting period for the upcoming fall elections. In addition to providing those options, the bill addresses polling place safety for those who choose to cast their ballots in person. On July 2, the Senate and House enacted the bill and on July 6, Governor Charlie Baker signed the bill into law. “Ensuring that we have safe, inclusive, and accessible elections is always of the highest importance, but especially critical as we face the COVID-19 crisis,” said DiDomenico. “I am proud that, as a Legislature, we have now Sal DiDomenico State Senator passed comprehensive legislation to allow voters – for the first time ever – to cast ballots by mail, vote early, and safely vote in person, as well as give our local election officials the tools they need to successfully run our fall elections.” “While this bill was spurred by COVID-19 and the need for necessary safety precautions, I believe it will be far more useful than just that,” said McGonagle. “Many voters already have difficulties getting to the polls, so this will widely expand their access and protect their right to vote. I am hopeful we will see an increase in voter participation in both the primary and general elections. Thanks to House and Senate leadership for prioritizing this timely and important legislation.” The components of the bill are as follows: • Implements an early voteby-mail system: An application to receive an early voting ballot for the primary will be mailed to all registered voters by July 15. The Secretary will then mail another application for the general election by September 14. Both applications and ballots will have postage costs already paid for. • Ballots postmarked on or before November 3 will be counted until Friday, November 6 at 5 p.m. Applications for early voting and absentee voting must be received four business days before the election, by Wednesday, August 26 (for the primary) and Wednesday, October 28. • Creates early voting for the primary and expands early voting periods: For the first time in Massachusetts, early voting will be available for the state primary, and it will take place from Saturday, AuJoseph McGonagle State Representative gust 22 through Friday, August 28. Early voting for the general election is scheduled to take place from Saturday, October 17 to Friday, October 30. • Makes in-person voting safer and more efficient: The bill allows municipalities, with proper notice, to consolidate polling places and eliminate the check-out table at these locations, allowing for a more efficient process and fewer poll workers. It also expands who is eligible to serve as a poll worker, knowing that many current volunteers are seniors who might feel less comfortable working in public during COVID-19. • Provides tools to assist clerks: Acknowledging the increased burden these options might place on municipalities and clerks, the bill also provides for several accommodations to make the logistics of processing votes easier. The legislation allows for tabulating ballots prior to Election Day, and it offers preaddressed envelopes to voters, so their applications go directly to their clerk’s office. • Tasks the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with creating an online portal and promoting voting options: To make it as easy as possible for people to apply for general election early voting, the bill requires Secretary William Galvin’s office to create an online portal not later than October 1. Electronic applications for early voting will be available for the general election, and if feasible, for the primary election. The bill also requires Secretary Galvin to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform and notify voters of the many options available to cast a vote in upcoming elections.
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