Massachusetts First

An Act Upgrading Elections Infrastructure, Improving Voting Access, and Reducing Municipal Burden (Senate No. 534)

Key Objectives

• Modernize Massachusetts’ election infrastructure
• Expand voting access
• Reduce burdens on municipal election administrators

Major Provisions

1. Centralized Digital Election Systems

• Creates a statewide, centralized digital system for reporting preliminary election results, with immediate public availability.
• Mandates technological upgrades for the central voter registry, ensuring real-time digital access and updates.

2. Permanent Mail Voting

• Establishes permanent mail voter status, allowing qualified voters to opt in via multiple channels (paper, online, during registration).
• Requires annual mailings to all registered voters with permanent mail voter status request forms and instructions.
• Permits any voter to become a permanent mail voter, and clarifies how party ballots are requested.

3. Expanded Early Voting

• Widens early, in-person voting days and hours, with tiered requirements based on municipality size.
• Specifies minimum hours and weekend accessibility for early voting before all major elections.

4. Ballot Drop Boxes

• Requires all municipalities to maintain at least one secure, accessible ballot drop box per 25,000 registered voters (with waivers for smaller towns), ensuring equitable geographic and disability access.

5. Electronic Poll Books and Voting Lists

• Authorizes the use of electronic poll books and digital voting lists at polling locations, with clerks deciding the format.
• Mandates upgrades to poll book technology by the end of 2025.

6. Financial Support for Municipalities

• The Commonwealth will reimburse 80% of municipal election costs tied to new early and mail voting requirements.
• Outlines a process for cost certification, reporting, and budget recommendations to ensure sustainable funding.

7. Transparent Ballot Tracking and Voter Alerts

• Requires an online public portal for voters to track the receipt and acceptance of mail and early ballots.
• Mandates electronic notifications requesting mail voters to verify information annually.

8. Language & Accessibility Improvements

• All critical notifications and forms must be provided in English, Spanish, and other necessary languages.
• Specifies requirements for public education that is culturally and linguistically diverse before every major election.

9. Miscellaneous Reforms

• Moves the state primary election date to the second Tuesday in June (or adjusted for religious holidays).
• Updates terminology (e.g., changing “aldermen” to “city council” and “selectmen” to “select board or town council”).
• Prohibits the Secretary of State’s personal appearance on voting materials.
• Directs improvements in ballot design, party color associations, and accessibility of materials.
• Empowers a new commission to review and suggest improvements to Massachusetts’ automatic voter registration process.

10. Election Procedure Enhancements

• Enables ballots (whether early, by mail, or absentee) to be processed and tabulated upon receipt.
• Updates defective ballot procedures to promptly notify voters and allow remedial actions.

Implementation Timeline Highlights

• Central registry and poll book upgrades by December 31, 2025.
• Comprehensive voter outreach by May 1 of each even-numbered year.
• Mailing of permanent mail voter forms to all registered voters by June 30, 2026.
• Special commission report on voter registration by April 15, 2026.