Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, today released the following statement in response to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling in Chelsea Collaborative v. Galvin, a lawsuit challenging Massachusetts’ voter registration cutoff law:
“This decision is a blow, not just to Massachusetts voters, but to the democratic process. Every election, Massachusetts’ arbitrary voter cutoff law disenfranchises thousands of potential voters throughout the Commonwealth – a fact that the Supreme Judicial Court itself acknowledges in its ruling. So it is deeply troubling that the Court has allowed this disenfranchisement to continue, even though our Massachusetts Constitution protects the right to vote.
“Now, it’s up to the legislature to stand up for the best interests of its constituents and change the law. That starts with passing automatic voter registration, which would increase voter participation and expand access to the ballot here in Massachusetts. The legislature must then continue to work to do everything possible to make sure every eligible voter can vote in every election.”
Click here to learn more about the case and read the ruling.
