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Letter to the Editor: Amidst pandemic, democracy must persist

By TWIW Staff | May 5, 2020
Last Updated: February 2, 2021

On September 1 and November 3, we shouldn’t choose between our health and our vote. Instead, Massachusetts should expand vote-by-mail.

The need’s apparent: following Wisconsin’s April 7 election, 50+ voters tested Covid-19 positive. And, we can’t count on Washington: the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to block expanded vote-by-mail just before Wisconsin’s election.

Solutions? Promising bills, notably Senator Rausch and Representative Madaro’s “2020 Vote by Mail Act”, have been introduced.

Will it work? Evidence suggests yes: Oregon’s voted-by-mail since 1998, which has increased participation (whopping 63% 2018 turnout), and saved money, with decreased election day costs offsetting postage expenses. And, Pew and WSJ polls show 70% of Americans favor vote-by-mail.

Beacon Hill recently addressed early voting and automatic registration, now it’s time for pragmatic measures to ensure safe, secure, and accessible voting.

— Paul DePalo, Esq., M.Ed., Worcester; Candidate to represent Central MA on Governor’s Council

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