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Join us for a full-day in-person retreat centered on building community, deepening our collective work, and affirming the leadership journeys of Women of Color across public and civic spaces. Register by November 8th, 2025.

Written by Cheryl Crawford If you’ve ever thought, my one vote won’t make a difference, I want to talk to you.  I hear this all the time: the system is broken, politicians don’t care, the Electoral College decides anyway . And I get it. The way our democracy works isn’t perfect. It can feel frustrating, confusing, and sometimes downright discouraging.  But here’s what I also know: when we don’t show up, the people who do vote get to make all the decisions. Rent prices. Wages. Student debt. Health care. Transportation. Schools. Climate. These issues don’t pause because we sit out. They’re decided with or without us.   At MassVOTE, I see what happens when people connect the dots. A teenager from Dorchester told me she had never seen anyone in her family vote. After weeks in our Young Civic Leaders program, she realized: “If we don’t show up, nobody listens to us.” That’s not just true for her — it’s true for all of us.  Another student from Mattapan registered the day he turned 18, but he didn’t know what to do next. Once he learned, he started organizing friends at his college to register and vote. Now he’s helping shape the future of his community.  And it’s not only young people. I’ve met parents, retirees, immigrants who’ve become citizens, and longtime residents who all share the same story: once they took that first step, they realized their vote carried more weight than they thought.  We’ve fought hard for reforms here in Massachusetts — same-day registration, early voting, mail-in ballots — but rights on paper only matter if we use them.  So here’s my ask:  ● Check your registration. It takes less than two minutes.  ● Make a plan to vote. Don’t wait until the last minute.  ● Encourage someone else. A neighbor, a co-worker, a cousin.  Democracy doesn’t run on autopilot. It depends on us — all of us. If you’ve been sitting out, this is your chance to step in.  Because the truth is simple: if you don’t vote, someone else will make the decisions that shape your life. And their voice will count while yours is silent.

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.

Written by Mira Donaldson On September 16th, MassVOTE and the Election Modernization Coalition (EMC) joined voting rights advocates, election officials from Maine and Vermont, healthcare professionals, housing experts, and community leaders at the Massachusetts State House to testify in favor of legislation establishing Same Day Voter Registration (SDR) in the Commonwealth (S.505, H.384). Speakers highlighted how SDR would eliminate unnecessary registration deadlines that prevent thousands of eligible voters from casting their ballots. Testimonies underscored the law’s potential to expand access to the ballot box and strengthen democracy across Massachusetts. “There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 20+ states that already implement Same Day Registration. In fact, SDR can strengthen election security by using tools like e-poll books to ensure real-time updates and prevent double voting,” said MassVOTE Executive Director, Cheryl Crawford. The coalition emphasized that Massachusetts remains behind many other states that already allow Same Day Registration. By passing SDR, legislators can ensure more inclusive elections that reflect the voices of all Bay Staters.

MassVOTE is a nonprofit voting rights organization that builds civic coalitions to advocate for democratic reforms that make the electoral process more accountable and accessible to all people. WE WORK TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION, EDUCATION, AND PARTICIPATION IN HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS. DONATE TODAY STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY Your monthly support protects voting rights and strengthens civic participation across Massachusetts. Learn more MARK YOUR CALENDAR Upcoming Events 8 days to the event Sat, Feb 21 Mayor's Youth Summit / Artists For Humanities Epicenter RSVP Feb 21, 2026, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Artists For Humanities Epicenter, 100 W 2nd St, Boston, MA 02127, USA We invite all youth to attend the Mayor's Youth Summit. This is an opportunity to engage with youth who are thinking about elections and the importance of getting out the vote. Join other youth from across the City of Boston and beyond for this amazing Saturday afternoon. GENERAL ELECTIONS INFORMATION YOUR ELECTION DAY RESOURCE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES MassVOTE Connects Join us for our weekly visit to the Massachusetts State House, where we connect around priority legislation and more. SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FAIR ELECTIONS AGENDA For over a decade, we have been actively promoting voter participation and fair elections through legislative advocacy, voter activation, and educational initiatives. The Fair Elections Agenda is committed to ensuring transparency, access, and fairness in electoral legislation and processes. It strives to safeguard and uphold the principle of equal opportunity for all individuals to participate, vote, and contribute their voices to shape our sociopolitical future. LEARN MORE YOUNG CIVIC LEADERS Our Young Civic Leaders program empowers high school students in Boston with the knowledge and skills necessary to become active participants in civic life. Aimed at cultivating a new generation of socially conscious leaders, the program invites students aged 15-19 to engage in a transformative journey centered around voter education, advocacy, and community engagement. Participants undergo a structured curriculum over the course of a school year, emphasizing key topics like the history of voting rights, voter suppression, and the significance of local and national elections. LEARN MORE DEMOCRACY FOR ALL Democracy for All originates from those who labored to build a culture of civic participation among historically disenfranchised groups in underserved communities nationwide. Today, these communities form the "rising electorate" of Massachusetts, encompassing people of color, naturalized citizens, youth, and low-income voters. The Democracy For All program carries on this legacy by promoting non-partisan voter education, engagement, and participation in our democratic system. LEARN MORE Additional Resources We are excited to share the latest research report, "Ranked Choice Voting Elections Benefit Candidates and Voters of Color ." This comprehensive study, conducted by FairVote's senior research analysts Deb Otis and Nora Dell, with contributions from Chris Zawora and Omar Danaf, delves into the transformative impact of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) on electoral outcomes for communities of color. LEARN MORE READ OUR FEATURED CONTENT IF YOU SIT OUT, SOMEONE ELSE DECIDES FOR YOU ELECTION MODERNIZATION COALITION, VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATES, AND ELECTION OFFICIALS TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF SAME DAY REGISTRATION BILL IT’S TIME FOR MASSACHUSETTS TO ADOPT SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION 1 2 3 4 5

Voter Resources Volunteer Opportunities By volunteering with us, you can make a real impact in your community and help us advocate for fair and equitable voting practices. Voting 101 Get the foundational knowledge for first-time voters or refresh your understanding of the voting process. Register to Vote Find the information and resources to guide you through the voter registration process. Voter Registration Forms Download your voter registration form here. Request a Voter Registration Drive MassVOTE can facilitate a voter registration drive upon request by providing essential resources and support to engage and register voters in Massachusetts, helping to increase voter participation and ensure a more inclusive democratic process. Young Civic Leaders The Young Civic Leaders is MassVOTE's flagship initiative dedicated to empowering and educating the next generation of civic leaders. FAQs Explore Frequently Asked Questions concerning voting in Massachusetts. Archives Explore our archive of voting events and opportunities.

JOB OPENINGS YOUNG CIVIC LEADER COORDINATOR The Young Civic Leader Program Manager position requires a high level of motivation, organization, and personal development. The ideal candidate should possess a cultural understanding of the youth MassVOTE aims to engage. Such a candidate should have a willingness to: Learn management, planning, written, and verbal communication skills specific to MassVOTE. Ability to engage in self-reflective methods and develop creative and innovative approaches, engaging high school youth students. Ability to create and facilitate a shared space that fosters flexibility, safety, and collectivism. Responsibilities for this position include: Train and organize Young Civic Leaders in advancing MassVOTE's election modernization legislation and activities {Primary focus on Same Day Registration and Rank Choice Vote}. Train and design presentations on voting, civc participation, and new voter education. Conduct, develop and coordinate weekly workshops that include coordinating with guest speakers, trainers, events and short-term campaigns. Leadership planning for individual assessment, personal goal setting, and ongoing support for Young Civc Leaders. Relationship building with educational institutions and youth-oriented organizations. Support as needed with program requirements. Create an atmosphere where all people, especially YCL members, can work hard, treat each other with respect, have fun, and contribute ideas to direct the future growth and direction of the YCL program at MassVOTE. If you are interested in this position at MassVOTE, please send your resume and cover letter to info@massvote.org . INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES MassVOTE accepts interns during all semesters: Spring Internship: January - April Summer Internship: June - August Fall Internship: September - December MassVOTE interns assist all angles of the MassVOTE team, completing tasks related to policy and communications, voter education, and non-profit organization. Interns are expected to be current college students or recent graduates. Internships are unpaid. If you are interested in interning at MassVOTE, please send your resume and cover letter to info@massvote.org .