Lawmakers in the Commonwealth are considering legislation to restore voting rights for people incarcerated on felony convictions.
One bill would reverse decades old policy which stripped those voting rights while another bill would amend the state constitution, allowing all incarcerated people to vote.
Kristina Mensik, organizer with the Democracy Behind Bars Coalition, said voting allows incarcerated people to maintain important social connections.
"A lot of the people we work with," said Mensik, "are parents who want to vote on their kids' school committee."
Mensik said ensuring incarcerated people can vote also improves recidivism rates. She said an estimated 7,000 - 9,000 people in the Commonwealth could have their voting rights restored.
The current voting legislation builds on the Votes Act - which was signed into law last year by former-Gov. Charlie Baker, and which included provisions meant to improve ballot access for eligible incarcerated voters.
Mensik said there is growing public understanding of the impact of voting restrictions and incarceration, particularly on Black and Hispanic communities.
"We need a criminal legal system that is grounded in rehabilitation," said Mensik, "and not just focused on continuing to lock people up at higher and higher rates."
If approved by lawmakers and the voters, Massachusetts would join Maine and Vermont as the only states with zero restrictions on voting while incarcerated - but that could change. At least 14 states have introduced bills this year aimed at restoring voting rights.
Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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New York City election integrity is under added scrutiny after Mayor Eric Adams' indictment.
Part of the indictment alleges Adams broke campaign finance laws during his 2021 mayoral bid. But some groups advocating for good government feel there is not much cause for concern.
Rachael Fauss, senior policy analyst for the group Reinvent Albany, noted the charges against Adams mean the enforcement mechanism works in New York's public matching program for political campaign funds. She said the city's Campaign Finance Board flags any suspicious patterns of contributions.
"There's a whole filing and disclosure process that candidates have to go through," Fauss explained. "By vetting those filings, the Campaign Finance Board can find where they think there are violations and, in this case, it ended up going through to the Southern District and an indictment resulted from this."
With the mayoral election next year, and Adams vehemently aiming for a second term, Fauss pointed out there are ways to bolster election integrity. One recommendation is for the Campaign Finance Board to hold campaign audits closer to elections, which could boost confidence in the process. Fauss also feels the language should be clearer on campaign contribution disclosures about the penalties a person can face.
The Campaign Finance Board is considering new rules about when to withhold matching funds from a campaign. The rules would also examine when expenses are truly independent. Fauss thinks now is not the time to make big changes, although she added they would have value in future elections.
"Their new regulations should help with enforcement. Speeding up the process for the audits I think will help give more confidence that the system is working as it should," Fauss outlined. "But you know, of course, we're in the middle of a presidential election right now, so we have other things on our minds, but the mayoral election will be here shortly in 2025."
She adds the Campaign Finance Board provides transparency about how campaigns get money. The challenge ahead is ensuring people understand what the board's data mean in terms of election integrity.
Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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In-person early voting begins next week in Wisconsin, which will again be in the spotlight when election results come into focus.
Officials said being an informed voter can make the next several weeks less stressful for everyone. On the campaign trail, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump continues to spread false claims tied to the 2020 election. Analysts said it is why 2024 results in swing states like Wisconsin will likely be scrutinized.
Kate Martin, city clerk in Menomonie, said they remain undeterred and are ready to oversee a free and fair election. Martin stressed a "thinking-ahead" approach by voters would be helpful for her staff.
"The less work that they have to do in order to help voters get through that process on Election Day, the better and the least frustrating it is for voters themselves," Martin explained.
To free up more time for poll workers, Martin emphasized preparation, by having required documentation on hand, including a valid ID for casting a ballot. Other proof-of-address documents, like a billing statement, can be used for registration. In general, she noted voting early helps make Election Day smoother. Tomorrow is the last day in Wisconsin to register to vote, by mail or online.
Amid ongoing divisions about election integrity, a new national report from the Movement Advancement Project outlined what happens after polls close.
Brian Hinkle, senior voting policy researcher for the project, said while there are timeline variations, all states generally take the same careful steps before results are certified.
"For many voters, they cast a ballot and that feels like the end of the process," Hinkle observed. "But in reality, that's the first step in a deliberate, specific and careful process to get the final election results."
On election night or the days after, the public gets a look at unofficial results submitted in each state. Then there are actions like canvassing to ensure the ballots cast are accurate, along with postelection audits to confirm the accuracy of results and check for errors.
After the 2020 presidential election fallout, Congress adopted new safeguards for the Electoral College counting process. Meanwhile, Hinkle pointed out Wisconsin is among only a handful of states to still not allow absentee or mail-in ballots to be processed before Election Day.
"Due to that policy or lack thereof in Wisconsin, I think we'll potentially see some delays in the counting of mail ballots and therefore, delays in unofficial results in the state this year," Hinkle projected.
He added it could potentially make Wisconsin again vulnerable to misinformation about the results.
Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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With just three weeks until Election Day, Indiana's race for governor is heating up as Republican Mike Braun and Democrat Jennifer McCormick vie for the state's top office.
Both candidates have previously switched political parties, bringing a unique dynamic to the race. McCormick, who served as Indiana's Superintendent of Public Instruction, switched from Republican to Democrat, citing a shift to the right within the GOP. Braun, a former Democrat, is now running as a Republican, emphasizing a focus on conservative principles and economic growth.
Robin Winston, a political analyst and president of the Indianapolis-based Winston Terrell Group, noted McCormick's decision reflects her concerns over the state's political direction.
"The superintendent ran as a Democrat because she basically had felt that her party was moving too far to the right, pushing some extreme issues that she did not think were in sync with most people in Indiana," Winston explained.
Republicans argued their supermajority reflects widespread voter support for their platform. Braun's campaign has pushed back against claims political diversity is lacking, suggesting their stronghold allows for decisive governance aligning with Hoosier values.
Winston, whose firm does government relations, public affairs and community outreach, is concerned about the state's Republican supermajority, which he believes limits democratic engagement and political diversity.
"I don't think it's healthy for a democracy to have one party with an iron clad rule," Winston asserted. "It stymies creativity in trying to move your state forward. It eliminates the opportunity for an entire cadre of young people, particularly, to become involved in government."
Despite the criticism, Republicans argued their dominance has enabled consistent policymaking. The gubernatorial race underscores debates over personal freedoms, LGBTQ+ rights and women's reproductive rights. Winston noted such issues have become increasingly polarized compared to former Gov. Daniels' era, which emphasized economic priorities.
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