NORTHAMPTON — Two Hampshire County mayors are urging state lawmakers to adopt a vote-by-mail program for the upcoming fall elections.
“In the midst of a highly contagious infectious disease, we implore you to ensure safe and healthy ballot access in 2020,” reads a letter to Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo signed by 22 mayors from around the state, including Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle and Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, who posted the letter on his Facebook page.
“Our constituents deserve the opportunity to exercise their right to vote without risk of exposure to a deadly virus,” the letter continued. “Every voter in the commonwealth deserves a safe chance at participating in the democratic process, even through this extremely challenging time for our country.”
Some members of Congress, including Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, have called for a universal vote by mail program in Massachusetts, the Boston Globe reported last week, while some state legislators have filed bills related to voting by mail, according to the State House News Service.
Voters in states like Hawaii and Colorado have vote-by-mail options, the group of 22 mayors said. They also pointed out that some experts predict that there may be a resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall.
“As Mayors serving 22 cities,” the letter said, “we see Vote by Mail as the best chance our constituents and Commonwealth have to protect the integrity of our 2020 elections and the health of our voters.”
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.