Massachusetts Governor Vetoes $1.2M for Early Voting

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Back in June, I wrote about how Massachusetts was preparing for the advent of early voting, which became law in the Bay State as part of a 2014 bill scheduled to go into effect this year. In particular, that post focused on how many cities and towns were nervous about both the timing of the change as well as the cost. Those concerns are likely to be renewed – and increased – after the veto by Gov. Charlie Baker of $1.2 million in state funding in support of the change. The Boston Globe has more:

Governor Charlie Baker has vetoed $1.2 million in state spending that election officials argue is critical for a new statewide early-voting program, a move advocates say could cripple efforts to expand residents’ ability to participate in the presidential race this fall.

The early-voting law, set to begin with the November general election, is intended to allow Massachusetts residents to vote up to 11 business days before Election Day, joining 36 other states that already have such provisions.

Barring a legislative override of gubernatorial vetoes, state election officials said they cannot fully put in place a key element of an election reform signed by then-governor Deval Patrick in 2014.

“I am very disturbed. This is very irresponsible,’’ said Secretary of State William F. Galvin, who oversees state elections and is a strong supporter of the early-voting system.

“Elections are critical to a democracy, and we can’t compromise the right of the people to vote,’’ he said. “This is aimed at expanding that right by giving voters more options.”

The lack of funding will prove difficult for localities, which are facing the combination of minimum early voting requirements as well as pressure to expand availability this fall:

The law stipulates that cities and towns must have at least one early-voting site open during business hours. It also gives municipalities the ability to extend their hours, hold polling hours on weekends, and establish additional voting sites — though they are not required to do so. Advocates have encouraged large municipalities to create and staff more than one early-voting site.

Communities across the state have already begun planning for early voting, which begins Oct. 24. Boston plans to have nine early-voting sites with weekend and evening hours, while Springfield will extend its hours and hopes to have at least one weekend day, though such measures are still preliminary.

The money at issue was aimed at facilitating the expanded hours, as well as myriad extra costs — from printing special ballots to creating a central voter registry to ensure the process works smoothly.

While the Governor defends the cuts as necessary budget moves, early voting supporters in the legislature are unhappy – and working on a potential override of the veto:

As Baker’s spending cuts — made public last Friday — became clear, the move came under fire from Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, and the leading election reform advocacy group in the state, Common Cause of Massachusetts.

Baker’s aides said the governor would not respond directly to the issues Galvin and others were raising and that he stood by his budget cuts. His communications director, Lizzy Guyton, noted the budget the governor signed last week increased funding for local aid, education, and opioid-abuse programs without raising taxes.

“The administration is confident that all state agencies will use taxpayer dollars efficiently while preparing for softening revenues and hopes the Secretary of State’s office will tap their multiple funding sources to carry out its mission,” Guyton said in a written statement.

Legislative leaders raised the possibility that lawmakers will override Baker’s vetoes related to early voting, which were among a number he made to cut $256 million from the state’s new $38.9 billion budget … 

“The governor’s veto of election funds for early voting endangers an important reform that the Legislature enacted in 2014 to maximize voter participation,’’ Rosenberg said.

“We should be encouraging people to vote, not making it harder.”

DeLeo, through a spokesman, also weighed in, saying he would support restoring the funds when the House and Senate take up Baker’s vetoes.

“Speaker DeLeo believes that early voting helps contribute to a vigorous, inclusive, and just elections process,’’ said his press secretary, Seth Gitell. “He supports overriding the administration’s veto of funds for early voting.”

Whether or not this veto is necessary from a budgeting standpoint, the timing is terrible for localities who are already apprehensive about whether and how they can handle the rollout of early voting this fall. Here’s hoping the matter is settled one way or another very soon so that Massachusetts voters can know their options for casting a ballot this fall.

Stay tuned …