GREENFIELD — Due to the current stay-at-home advisory, state representatives running for re-election in September and November must collect constituent signatures required for nomination via mail.
In addition, a state senator and representative have filed a bill, so voting in the 2020 elections could be conducted via mail.
Papers for the state representative primary nominations are due April 28 for certification. Certified nomination papers must be filed with the secretary of the commonwealth by May 26. Deadlines for those running for federal office require nomination papers to be submitted for certification by May 5, and certified nomination papers must be filed by June 2.
“This State of Emergency is changing how we do things on all fronts, and that includes the way we need to conduct the election process,” Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, wrote in a recent letter addressed to constituents. “Democracy cannot be pushed aside even in a crisis and the election calendar will and must continue in 2020.”
Unfortunately for Mark and other candidates, they are currently unable to garner signatures for nomination through partisan caucuses, by going door-to-door or by meeting voters at public events. Instead, representatives are relying on mail-in support to continue serving their communities from Beacon Hill.
“If you have other voters registered as a Democrat or Unenrolled in your home or in your quarantine bubble, they can also sign,” Mark said in his letter.
Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, quickly collected the required number of signatures for nomination when paperwork became available in February. Thanks to a group of friends and supporters, Whipps took early action and collected signatures before the social guidelines related to COVID-19 took hold and events were canceled.
“I had all my signatures gathered in the first week and a half,” Whipps said Friday.
She noted that party-affiliated candidates may rely on partisan caucuses to collect signatures. However, many towns canceled their caucuses due to limitations on large gatherings. She said this could prove to be a hurdle for those still collecting signatures.
As an independent, Whipps reiterated that her name will not appear on the September primary ballot. Her name will appear on the general election ballot in November. Other party-affiliated candidates will appear on the September primary ballot before being eligible for the general election.
Rep. Natalie Blais (D- Sunderland) is also running for re-election in the primary and general elections, but could not be reached for comment.
To prepare for the uncertainty the COVID-19 health crisis presents for the status of fall elections and voter safety, local senators and representatives have filed a bill, An Act to Protect Elections, to create a vote by mail system for the 2020 elections in Massachusetts.
Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, and Rep. Jeff Roy, D-Franklin, filed the bill, which requires the secretary of state to automatically mail ballots to registered voters in advance of the Sept. 1 primary election, as well as the Nov. 3 general election. The bill will expand on previous legislation to establish a mechanism for automatic mailings to unenrolled voters in Massachusetts.
“Unenrolled voters make up 52 percent of voters in the Commonwealth and we recognize that constitutes the majority of Massachusetts voters,” Hinds said in a press release. “It is important we proactively include unenrolled voters in this process.”
For the primary election, those registered with a political party will automatically receive their party’s ballot. The bill requires the secretary of the commonwealth to send a mailing to unenrolled voters prior to the election asking them to signify which party ballot they want for the upcoming election. Roy said elections are the cornerstone of democracy, and the right and ability for citizens to vote must be preserved.
“Given the profound challenges that COVID-19 presents for our electoral process, this bill provides a mechanism for every voter to get access to the ballot without exposure to a deadly virus,” Roy said in the press release. “Moreover, it gives us the opportunity to seize the mantle and protect the integrity of our elections, encourage political participation and expand access to our democratic process.”
The legislation maintains options for in-person voting and requires that all poll workers be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) if the state of emergency is still in effect. The bill also makes permanent changes to the election system, including an election day holiday allowing municipal clerks to process early votes prior to election day, and establishing funding sources for enhancements to the voting systems.
“Vote by mail is an important step for experiencing voter participation and voter education in any year,” Hinds said. “When we are in the midst of a pandemic, vote by mail becomes a critical step to protect voters, poll workers and democracy.”
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.