BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- Secretary of State Bill Galvin proposes legislation to allow people to register to vote on Election Day.
Currently Massachusetts voters must register at least 20 days before an election. Galvin’s measure would allow voters who missed that deadline -- to go to their local polling place on Election Day, complete a voter registration form, and vote immediately afterward.
Galvin tells WBZ NewsRadio1030 -- the idea is to expand access to the ballot for eligible voters:
“We’ve made a lot of progress. We have online registration and we have a lot of other ways for people to register, but this would solve the problem for people who for whatever reason fail to register and are still are legally are elligible to register to vote on election day," Galvin said.
Galvin says he is crafting a proposal that addresses concerns that making the change would burden local election officials.
His plan will be considered by the legislature's Joint Committee on Election Laws and if approved, the change will go into effect in 2019 -- before the next presidential election.
TTWN Media Networks LLC /24/7 News Source contributed to this report.