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On December 10, 2021, we were featured in the Boston Herald discussing an upcoming special state senate election. Read the full story here.

On December 10, 2021, we were mentioned in the MA Politico Playbook. Read it here.

On December 8, 2021, we were featured in Mass Live on the VOTES Act, and same day voter registration in particular. Read the full story here.

On Tuesday, November 22, we were featured in the Salem News discussing a recent poll that showed majority public support for voting reforms. Read the full story here.

On Tuesday, November 16, we were featured in the Boston Globe discussing the VOTES Act. You can read the full story here.

On November 17, 2021, we were featured in the Daily Free Press discussing voting rights issues like same day voter registration. Read the full story here.

On November 11, 2021, we were featured in the Daily Free Press discussing the redistricting process. You can read the full story here.

11/12/21: We're hiring! MassVOTE is seeking a Policy and Organizing Manager to join our team full-time. The Policy and Organizing Manager will lead many of our campaigns both "inside" and "outside" Beacon Hill. "Inside," they will perform tasks like lobbying legislators, conducting legislative research, and writing policy analysis. Outside, they will lead grassroots organizing efforts to (a) build support for MassVOTE’s policy agenda; and (b) foster a greater sense of civic engagement throughout Massachusetts. This will occur through our Democracy HUBS (Holistically Unifying Blocks of Solidarity) initiative, involving the creation of robust, diverse, and sustainable civic engagement programming that is accessible and culturally competent to the communities we serve. We believe this position ideal for those with experience in the organizing and/or public policy field. Whether you recently wrapped up a political campaign or are a seasoned policy analyst, we are eager to consider you for this role You can learn more about and apply for the Policy and Organizing Manager position by clicking here, or the image above. Also, spread the word! Share this with anyone you believe may be interested. If you have any questions, contact us at info@massvote.org. Thank you!

On November 4, 2021, we were featured in the Boston Globe discussing voter turnout in Boston's recent municipal election. Read the piece here.

November 4, 2021: Earlier this week, the state's Special Joint Committee on Redistricting released their draft maps for Congressional representation, and there is something seriously wrong with it: their map fails to unite Fall River and New Bedford in one Congressional district. We believe that Fall River and New Bedford must be joined in one Congressional district because their populations form a clear community of interest. Both Fall River and New Bedford are two of the state's Gateway Cities, meaning that they share historical, cultural, and economic similarities that stretch back centuries. They also share demographic similarities. According to the 2020 Census, 29% of Fall River's population is non-white, as is 43% of New Bedford's. Furthermore, in Fall River and New Bedford, 20% of residents are foreign born, less than 20% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the median household income is less than $47,000. Both Fall River and New Bedford host diverse, working-class populations that share many similarities in their professional, educational, and personal lives. As a result, these cities comprise an obvious community of interest. The bonds they share stretch from the industrial revolution to today. They deserve to be joined within the same Congressional district. If Fall River and New Bedford are not joined, we fear that their political power will be diluted in separate districts, where whiter, wealthier, highly educated communities will control who is and is not elected to office. We are far from the only ones that believe this. The South Coast-based Coalition for Social Justice and the entire Drawing Democracy Coalition have long pushed for this. Numerous current and former elected officials of the region have also added their voice to this discussion, such as state Senator Michael Rodrigues, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, and Congressman Bill Keating. Odds are, by the time you read this message, even more advocates and officials will have joined the call for unifying Fall River and New Bedford in Congress. But to create this change, we need your help. We are asking you to contact the chairs of the state's redistricting committee, Representative Mike Moran and Senator Will Brownsberger, and urge them to unite Fall River and New Bedford in a single Congressional district. You can do this by testifying via Zoom at the committee's hearing on the Congressional maps, which will be held this Tuesday, November 9 at 11 AM. You can sign up to testify at the hearing by clicking here, or clicking the button below. You can also send the committee written comments until November 9. You may email them to Rep. Moran at Michael.Moran@mahouse.gov and Sen. Brownsberger at William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov. The people of Fall River and New Bedford deserve just, fair representation in Washington, DC. You know how to play your part. Will you make your voice heard?

On November 2, 2021, we spoke to the Daily Free Press about the issues at stake in Boston's Municipal Election. Read it here.

On November 1, 2021, we were featured on WCVB News, Boston's ABC affiliate, discussing Boston's upcoming municipal election. Watch it here.

November 2, 2021: Today, November 2nd, is municipal Election Day in 55 Massachusetts cities. That means, if you live in a city, then you have an election. So today, our message is clear: get out and VOTE! We have been spreading this message on the ground and in the airwaves. This past weekend, we joined both advocates and legislators to get out the vote in Boston's Black community. We organized dozens of volunteers, passed out lawn signs, and knocked on thousands of doors in neighborhoods like Dorchester, Mattapan, and Hyde Park. You can read more about it in the Boston Globe. Today, we are making one final push to get out the vote. We have been at the NAACP Boston Branch HQ since 9:30 AM, and will be there until 9 PM, to launch and monitor all operations. This includes phone banking from up until the polls close at 8 PM. If you want to join us, simply reply to this email, or contact us at info@massvote.org. Finally, if you or someone you know does not plan to vote today, we encourage you to think again. As our recent opinion piece in the Worcester Telegram notes, far too much is on the line each local election to simply sit them out. So get out and VOTE! Polls close at 8 PM. What are you waiting for?

On October 31, 2021, our get out the vote efforts for Boston's November municipal election were featured in the Boston Globe. Read the full story here.

On October 31, 2021, our get out the vote efforts were featured in the Boston Globe. Read the full story here.

October 28, 2021 This Tuesday, November 2nd is Election Day in more than 50 Massachusetts cities. While you may have heard the most about Boston's mayoral race, it is by no means the only election taking place next week. Dozens of cities will vote for offices like Mayor, City Council, and School Committee. We want to make sure that you as a voter will have all the tools you need to have your voice heard. First, you should verify your voter registration status. Doing so will allow you to check that your voter registration information is correct. It will also allow you to confirm your polling place. Review your voter registration status here. Second, you should learn as much as you can about who is on the ballot. We have created a database of candidate forums and guides for cities including Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Brockton, Framingham, and more, which you can view here. It is critical you understand the candidates and the values they represent when you head to the polls. That way, you will be able to cast a truly educated and impactful vote that you believe in. Third, you should make a plan to vote. If you did not vote early in-person or by mail, you can vote on Election Day. Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM (or longer in some cities), so you should confirm a time that works best for you. You should also encourage those in your social network to make a plan and vote too. We encourage you to share these resources with anyone and everyone you can. Together, we may push back on the ultimate paradox of civic life - that the elections that impact our daily lives most also receive the least attention. We know that one simple email will not solve this problem, but we do believe that it will help educate and empower voters across Massachusetts.

On October 20, 2021, we were featured in The Salem News discussing voter ID. Read the full story here.

On October 19, 2021, the Massachusetts House and Senate unveiled the newest - and likely final - versions of their legislative maps. These maps, which span 160 House districts and 40 Senate districts, reveal what representation on Beacon Hill will look like for the next 10 years. Of crucial note is the increased number of Minority Opportunity districts. Minority Opportunity districts are districts in which white residents do not make up the majority of the population. These districts are specifically created to help empower those that have long seen their voices ignored in the political process, like Black and brown, low income, and immigrant individuals. In the House, there are 33 Minority Opportunity districts, up from the 20 created 10 years ago. This includes new incumbent-free districts in cities like Framingham and Lawrence. In the Senate, there are six Minority Opportunity districts, up from the three created 10 years ago. This includes districts that strengthen the political power of Black residents in Brockton, and Latino residents in the Merrimack Valley. But these gains were not easy to achieve. Last week, the state released the first draft of their maps. While we were generally pleased with the House's map, we were concerned the the Senate's map divided Latino communities of interest in the Merrimack Valley, as well as Black communities of interest in the Brockton area. We voiced these concerns alongside our partners in the Drawing Democracy Coalition during a public hearing held by the legislature on October 15. Over the weekend, our partners at Lawyers for Civil Rights applied additional pressure on the state, making the legal case to protect said communities in the Merrimack Valley and Brockton. And it worked. On Tuesday, when the state released their new maps, they addressed our concerns in the Merrimack Valley and Brockton area. While not perfect, these new maps take critical steps to better serve communities of interest that have routinely seen their needs ignored. As advocates across Massachusetts reflected on this moment, Beth Huang of the Massachusetts Voter Table said it best: “Often we wonder, is it worth it to testify? Is it worth it to show up? And the answer is yes.” Though our work is far from complete, and years - if not decades - of advocacy remain, advocates and residents alike should be proud of this moment. We came together, recognized an injustice, spoke out against that injustice, and achieved change. Our democracy worked.