STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts residents would be able to cast ballots up to 10 days before an election and register to vote online and on Election Day under a bill overwhelmingly approved Thursday by the Senate.
The bill, which passed on a 37-1 vote, would allow early voting in all state and federal elections and primaries. Voting would begin 10 business days before an election and end two days before Election Day.
The House last year approved an early voting bill that would allow voters to cast ballots up to two weeks before a presidential election. A joint House and Senate conference committee will have to iron out the differences between the two bills and a final version sent to both chambers for approval.
Both bills would allow early voting to begin with the 2016 elections.
Gov. Deval Patrick has said he “loves the idea” of early voting.
Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, said Thursday the Senate bill will “modernize the state’s election system” and bring Massachusetts in line with other states that have adopted early voting.
More than 30 other states allow some form of early voting and more than a dozen offer online registration.
The Senate also rejected a Republican-sponsored amendment that would have required voters to produce identification or sign an affidavit saying they are eligible to vote before casting their ballots.
Republicans argued the measure would help guard against fraud. But Democrats said requiring IDs could cause delays, drives up costs and suppress the vote among the poor, minorities, the elderly and others who might have less access to IDs.
The House had rejected a photo ID amendment in its version of the bill.
On Thursday, Senate Republicans unsuccessfully pushed back against the amendment allowing Election Day registration.
Voting advocacy groups have urged the Senate to allow voters to register on Election Day, arguing that on average, states with Election Day registration have turnout rates that are 10 to 12 percent higher than the national average.
In addition, the Senate bill would place voters on the inactive list only after they haven’t voted in two consecutive federal elections and not responded to a notice. Currently, voters can be placed on the inactive list for not filling out an annual census.
The bill also would allow preregistration of 16- and 17-year-olds, give 17-year-olds in Lowell the opportunity to vote in municipal elections if voters there approve the proposal, end the requirement of a check-out desk at polling places and require municipal election officials to attend annual training sessions.
The House version didn’t include preregistration of 16- and 17-year-olds.
Some lawmakers debate whether the best way to legalize early voting is by a new law or a constitutional amendment. During a joint constitutional convention last October, House and Senate members gave initial approval to a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would allow voters to cast ballots up to 10 days before an election.
The bill also marked the first time State Senator Don Humason Jr. (R-Westfield) was able to vote on a Senate bill, voting in favor of the measure.
“It was the first comprehensive bill I’ve voted on (since becoming Senator),” he said, which he had also voted on as a state representative, leading the push for the failed photo ID requirement.
Humason did say that the modernized version of the bill passed by the Senate is “still a good idea.”
“The only thing I worry about is the impact on the clerk’s offices in small towns, like some of the ones in my district,” he said of the 4th Hampden and Hampshire district.
“It (pre-registration) will be beneficial for when they turn 18, but not disclosing information on 16-year-olds I think is necessary,” Humason said.
State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D-Pittsfield), who represents the hilltowns of Blandford, Chester, and Huntington, also spoke favorably of the bill.
“It’s a big step in the right direction to expand the electoral process,” he said. “Early voting and enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register, it improves turnout.”
Downing also added that many states who have implemented the measure prior to Massachusetts are very different politically from the Bay State.
“It’s a mixed bag,” he said. “They are states like Wyoming and Montana — they aren’t all liberal bastions. This bill received a lot of input from both sides of the aisle. It was a true bipartisan bill.”
