Mail-In Voting Strengthens Democracy in Massachusetts

Written By Bridgit Brown and Cheryl Crawford

When Massachusetts adopted mail-in voting during the pandemic, some thought it would be temporary—a Band-Aid solution to an unprecedented crisis. But the results told another story. Mail-in voting didn’t just work; it opened the doors of democracy wider than ever before.

In the September 2020 state primary, turnout surged to the highest level in two decades, with over 1.7 million ballots cast—nearly half of them by mail. By November, more than 42% of Massachusetts voters chose to vote by mail, proving that when given the choice, people will seize the opportunity to participate in ways that fit their lives. Seniors, people with disabilities, parents juggling child care, and frontline workers who couldn’t stand in long Election Day lines all found a pathway to the ballot box.

That’s why, in 2022, the legislature passed the VOTES Act, making mail-in voting a permanent option in Massachusetts. Lawmakers listened to the people: convenience, security, and access matter. And mail-in voting delivers all three.

Despite President Trump’s repeated attempts to discredit mail-in ballots as “illegal” or “fraudulent,” the evidence is clear. Court after court has upheld the legitimacy of vote-by-mail. States like Colorado, Oregon, and Washington—which have conducted elections primarily by mail for years—report vanishingly small rates of fraud, often less than 0.0025%. In Massachusetts, officials from both parties have affirmed that mail-in ballots are counted with the same rigor and security as those cast in person.

The truth is simple: mail-in voting is not about politics—it’s about people. It ensures that a home health aide working a double shift, a single parent rushing between jobs, or an elder with mobility challenges doesn’t have to choose between daily survival and democratic participation.

And that is why mail-in voting isn’t going anywhere. Once voters experience the freedom of casting a ballot from their kitchen table, of taking the time to research candidates and fill out their ballot thoughtfully, they don’t want to give it up. Nor should they. Democracy thrives when more voices are heard. In Massachusetts, mail-in voting has become a cornerstone of that promise. Despite partisan attacks, it is here to stay—because voters demand it, because lawmakers enshrined it, and because our democracy is stronger, fairer, and more representative when everyone can cast a ballot that counts.

At MassVOTE, we’ve seen firsthand how vital these reforms are. From fighting for the passage of the VOTES Act, to educating voters on how to use their ballots, to building the grassroots coalitions that keep expanding access, our mission is clear: every voter, in every community, must have the tools and opportunities to participate fully in our democracy. Mail-in voting is one of those tools—and we will continue to protect and strengthen it, because the future of our democracy depends on it.