Massachusetts voter registration
Jan. 26th, 2021 05:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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I just filled out the annual town census, to send back to the town of Belmont in order to stay on the voter rolls. And it occurred to me, again, that I shouldn't have to do this. I voted in New York City for a quarter of a century and was never asked to say "hey, I still live here" when I walked into the polling place.
I have no idea of this was intended as voter suppression, but it's likely to have that effect. So I wrote to my state legislators, asking them to change it.
What I wrote is,"I just filled out my annual town of Belmont census, to maintain my voter registration. There is no good reason for this to be required: it is likely to have the effect of disenfranchising busy people. [specifics of my background and experience...]
As part of protecting everyone's right to vote, please work to remove this requirement."
Thanks,
redbird
I have no idea of this was intended as voter suppression, but it's likely to have that effect. So I wrote to my state legislators, asking them to change it.
What I wrote is,"I just filled out my annual town of Belmont census, to maintain my voter registration. There is no good reason for this to be required: it is likely to have the effect of disenfranchising busy people. [specifics of my background and experience...]
As part of protecting everyone's right to vote, please work to remove this requirement."
Thanks,
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no subject
Date: 2021-01-26 10:54 pm (UTC)City censuses also provide useful information to cities on changes in population, and don't have a fee or require doing something in person during business hours the way many IDs do.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter51/Section4
New York probably has a different mechanism for noticing that people have moved.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-27 01:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-01-27 04:39 pm (UTC)