MassVOTE's Voting Rights Agenda for 2007

Act for Election Day Registration

 

What It Does:

  • Allows voters to register or fix their registrations on Election Day.

  • Establishes a right of all eligible voters with ID to vote.

Who It Helps:

  • People who need to change their voting address.

  • Voters who would otherwise be prevented from voting because their names do not appear on the voter list of their current precinct.

  • Voters who missed the pre-election deadline but still want to vote.

Why Do It:

  • To guarantee every eligible voter their right to vote.

  • Elections results can’t be relied on if voters lose the right to vote for any correctable reason.

  • If we don’t give voters this option, we allow fraudulent vote suppression like discarding valid registrations.

  • EDR states lead the nation in voter turnout. Just as important, they and voters know their election administration is there to ensure people can and do participate and vote.

Who Does It:

  • Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Wyoming, and near us, New Hampshire and Maine. Big states and small states alike have had EDR for years without problems.

 

10 Point Voting Rights Agenda

  1. ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION -- FULL PROVISIONAL VOTING
    To ensure no eligible voter who goes to the polls is denied the right to vote on Election Day.

  2. VOTER-FRIENDLY ELECTIONS -- BETTER POLL PROCEDURES
    To have voters and poll workers treated with dignity and respect in elections.

  3. IMPROVEMENTS TO TUESDAY VOTING
    To address problems voters have voting on a busy, workday. Explore time-off to vote, early voting, better absentee ballots.

  4. ACCESS FOR NEW CITIZENS AND LANGUAGE MINORITIES
    To help voters who are new citizens.

  5. NEW VOTER EDUCATION STRATEGIES
    To create more effective and informed voters starting at an early age.

  6. MAJORITY CHOICE VOTING: MORE CHOICES-MAJORITY WINNER
    Use majority choice voting (Instant Run Off) to allow more candidates and parties to compete while ensuring the winner has a majority of the votes.

  7. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
    To provide fair access to all candidates, increase competition and restore trust in elections by reducing the influence of private special interest money in elections.Provide matching public funds to candidates agreeing to spending and contribution limits.

  8. ACCESS FOR DISABLED VOTERS
    To address access issues for disabled citizens and seniors.

  9. MODERN VOTING EQUIPMENT
    To provide voting equipment easy to use, accurate and accessible to all voters.

  10. END DISCRIMINATORY AT-LARGE VOTING
    To bar the use of winner-take-all voting in At-Large elections.