Online Voter Registration
Can online voter registration change voter apathy?
In September of 2014, the Primary Election in Holliston had a voter turnout of 1,699; only 17.1% of registered voters cast their vote to determine who would run for office to fill such significant positions as Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and others for the upcoming November 4, 2014 election. (Holliston Reporter, 9/10/2014)
Holliston voters redeemed themselves in that State Election of Nov. 4, 2014 with 62% or 6,104 of registered voters voting. (Holliston Reporter, 11/5/2014) This proves that; voters will come out to vote for candidates for higher office, or when they feel the stakes are high. So what happened to the other 38% of eligible voters? Were they just not interested, or not quite sure of their eligibility status as voters? The new Comprehensive Election Modernization Act will ensure that we all know where we stand when it comes to exercising our right to vote. This is just the first step in phasing in the CEMA with more positive implementations to come.
Of all the rights we have as Citizens of this country, the most fundamental is our right to vote. In that respect, voting should be made easy and accessible to all. Online voter registration is one of the first steps in implementing the Comprehensive Election Modernization Act, passed by our Legislature in 2014. The new law establishes online voter registration, early voting, pre-registration, audits of election equipment, and more, and is being phased in over the next year.
On June 25, 2015, Mass. Secretary of State William Galvin officially launched the new online voter registration tool. This means that Mass. Residents, in addition to the traditional paper option, can now register to vote online, increasing access to the ballot and making it easier for more citizens to participate in the political process. How does it work?
You can use the new system to register online by entering your Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit, or non-driver ID issued by the Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) which is matched and verified instantly with the Registry of Motor Vehicles database. If you don’t have a state ID you can still complete the form online and then just print it out and send it in with your signature.
You can use the online system to:
-- Apply to register to vote in Massachusetts;
-- Change your name or address for voter registration purposes;
-- Enroll in a political party, change your party enrollment, or unenroll from a party.
You may register to vote in Massachusetts if:
-- You are a citizen of the United States; and
-- You will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next election; and
-- You are a resident of Massachusetts; and
-- You are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.
If you meet the above requirements, you may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person. The deadline to register to vote in any election or regular town meeting is twenty (20) days prior to the date of the election or meeting. The deadline to register to vote in a special town meeting is ten (10) days prior to the special town meeting.
To use the online voter tool: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/
For more information see the following websites:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm
http://www.townofholliston.us/town-clerk/pages/register-to-vote