Less Than Six Months Until Election Day

I was looking at the calendar yesterday and realized something: we were exactly six months to the day away from Election Day (November 8, 2022).

That means that we now have less than six months to have as many conversations with fellow voters around the Commonwealth about the Fair Share for MA campaign and how it can mean better schools, better roads, better bridges, better transit, and a fairer economy.

The campaign will be formally launching this week, and there will be canvasses around the state (and many more to come).

This Week: Join Fair Share for Massachusetts for a regional canvass during our campaign launch week!

We’ll be hitting the doors and talking to voters about how the Fair Share Amendment could transform our communities—from well-resourced and affordable public education to safe roads and bridges and reliable public transportation.

Canvasses are being held in:

  • Amherst – Thursday, May 12
  • Boston (Hyde Park) – Saturday, May 14
  • Fall River – Saturday, May 14
  • Salem – Saturday, May 14
  • Somerville – Sunday, May 15
  • Brookline – Sunday, May 15

Sign up here!📋📋

And sign a pledge to vote YES on Fair Share this November if you haven’t already!

Will You Be Able to Register on Election Day? 🗳

Negotiations between the MA House and MA Senate happening right now will determine whether or not eligible voters will be able to register to vote or update their registration on Election Day.

The four Democrats on the six-person Conference Committee are Senators Barry Finegold (Andover, Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury) and Cindy Creem (Brookline, Newton, Wellesley) and Representatives Mike Moran (Allston-Brighton, St. Mary’s in Brookline) and Dan Ryan (Charlestown, most of Chelsea).

Look up your state representative and state senators’ phone numbers here and call them to stress the importance of passing Election Day Registration this year.

Sample Script: 📞

“My name is [NAME], calling from [ADDRESS/TOWN]. Election Day Registration is a simple, proven reform that increases participation, improves the accuracy of voter rolls, and would make Massachusetts more of a leader on voting rights. Please urge the VOTES Act Conference Committee to include Election Day Registration in the final bill.”

Learn more about the VOTES Act here.

PM in the News: Massachusetts lawmakers should put their name where their vote is

Editorial Board, “Massachusetts lawmakers should put their name where their vote is,” Boston Globe, May 9, 2022.

That one voice vote illustrates the larger cultural problem on Beacon Hill. “There is a fundamental opacity in the legislative process in Massachusetts and a damning lack of transparency here,” Jonathan Cohn, the policy director of the grassroots organization, Progressive Mass, said after the vote. Senate President Karen Spilka’s response to such criticism — along with her refusal to say where she herselfstands on the legislation — does nothing to dispel it. Spilka told the State House News Service that an “exhaustive process” led up to the measure coming to the floor and that roll call votes were taken on some amendments to the bill.

…

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has a reputation for operating with less transparency than the Senate, said Cohn of Progressive Mass. But both legislative bodies, he said, embrace a style of consensus-building that “likes to pretend divisions don’t exist.” When they do, roll call votes are avoided. Lawmakers are counselled to withdraw amendments and a quick voice vote is called. He also said lawmakers who oppose a measure that is generally seen as popular seek the cover of a voice vote, rather than be recorded with a “nay.” Beacon Hill’s lack of transparency, said Cohn, “is striking, compared to other states. Massachusetts likes to view itself as a positive example, but this is one place where we can learn something from other states.”