Yes on 4 Campaign Kicks off With Broad Slate of Endorsements for Election Day Registration

WORCESTER — The Yes 4 Election Day Registration campaign launched today with a broad slate of endorsements from advocates who back Ballot Question 4 as a straightforward, secure, and proven reform to make sure that every eligible citizen in Massachusetts has the opportunity to cast a vote that counts.

Question 4 on the November ballot would eliminate the arbitrary requirement that people register to vote at least 10 days before an election. Many people don’t tune into political debates or candidate platforms until just before an election — by which point they have lost their chance to register. If Question 4 passes, eligible citizens would be able to register at their polling place on Election Day with proof of residency and an affidavit of eligibility.

Importantly, Question 4 also benefits existing voters who find a problem with their registration when they get to the polls. They may have moved or changed their name, or there may be a typo in the voter rolls. Under current law, those voters now must cast provisional ballots, which can take days to tally and are often rejected for technical reasons. If Question 4 passes, they could update their registration on the spot and cast a regular ballot.

In the November 2024 election, this process could have helped more than 3,000 Massachusetts voters whose provisional ballots were rejected, mostly because they had moved and voted at the wrong polling place.

Ballot Question 4 has strong support: 69% of registered voters in Massachusetts back Election Day Registration, according to an August poll by UMass Amherst and WCVB. The Yes 4 Election Day Registration campaign will work to strengthen that support through public forums and webinars, door-to-door canvassing, and voter education on social media.

The campaign will also spotlight the stories of voters who would have benefitted from Election Day Registration. They include William Wallace, a longtime community organizer in the Boston area, who was turned away from his polling place last year after an apparent clerical error removed his name from the voter rolls in his precinct, even though he had voted in that same polling station the previous year: "The passing of same day voter registration would help avoid scenarios like my own, where a committed voter showed up to vote, and was turned away," Wallace said. "I strongly believe that every community member should have the opportunity to engage civically and register to vote, even if it's on the same day voting is taking place."

Members of the Yes 4 Election Day Registration campaign committee provided the following statements:

Cheryl Clyburn Crawford, Executive Director, MassVOTE:

"Election Day Registration removes an unnecessary barrier between eligible voters and the ballot box. For nearly two decades, MassVOTE has advocated for this common-sense reform because we have seen first-hand that people want to participate in our democracy, but life can get in the way of an arbitrary registration deadline. Question 4 says that if you are eligible to vote, you should have a meaningful opportunity to cast your ballot. This November, Massachusetts voters have the opportunity to modernize our elections, expand access, and make our democracy more inclusive."

Geoff Foster, Executive Director, Common Cause Massachusetts:

“Common Cause Massachusetts and our partners have fought for Election Day Registration for more than 16 years. Now that the question is officially on the ballot, we’re all in. Voting YES for Election Day Registration means that every eligible voter will have the opportunity to cast a ballot that counts. That’s a win for voters, a win for Massachusetts, and a win for democracy.”

Shanique Rodriguez, Executive Director, Massachusetts Voter Table

“Too often, eligible voters are ready to participate but are shut out simply because they missed a registration deadline or need to correct a registration issue. Election Day Registration removes that unnecessary barrier, particularly for low-income communities and communities of color. It helps ensure that being ready to vote means having the opportunity to make your voice heard.”

Celia Canavan, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
"Election Day Registration is a common-sense reform critical to protecting the right to vote in Massachusetts. A nonpartisan tool used in nearly two dozen states across the nation, EDR allows for continued protection of our most fundamental right — the right to vote. As federal attempts to limit women's right to vote continue to rise, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts is proud to continue the fight for suffrage by supporting Question 4."

Carol Rose, Executive Director, ACLU of Massachusetts:

“Your vote is your voice — and each year, far too many Massachusetts residents have that voice silenced because they missed the arbitrary registration deadline or have not updated their registration to reflect a name or address change. Question 4 would eliminate these hurdles. We’re proud to endorse Election Day Registration as a sensible and secure reform to modernize our elections administration and make sure every eligible voter has a voice in our democracy.”

In addition, representing the broad support from organized labor for Question 4, Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, shared this statement:

"A strong democracy and a strong public education system go hand-in-hand. AFT Massachusetts members and our union siblings across the country are committed to building a stronger, more just future for everyone in this country — and that starts at the ballot box. Election Day Registration is a widely used and proven standard to strengthen democracy, and we are proud to stand with this campaign in support of Question 4."