A Guide to Voting in Massachusetts

Information on Registration and Ballot Questions

Voter Registration Information

How to Register to Vote There are a few ways to register to vote:

Online-

● Websites like https://vote.gov/ and https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/, guide you through the process of registering to vote.

In Person-

● You can register in person through state and local election offices, the Department of Motor Vehicles, Armed Service Recruitment Centers, and State Assistance Offices such as Food Stamp Programs

Overseas and Military Voters-

● If you live or are serving overseas, you can fill out an absentee ballot through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

When and Where?

● Amesbury’s local registration site: Clerk’s office in City Hall○ Address: 62 Friend Street, Amesbury, MA 01913○ Hours:

■ Monday-Wednesday 8AM-4PM■ Thursday 8AM-7PM■ Friday 8AM-12PM■ Saturday & Sunday CLOSED

The State election is on November 6, 2018Voting will take place at Amesbury High School gym Address: 5 Highland St, Amesbury, MA 01913

Can You Register?Requirements for voter registration:

-U.S. citizens

-Massachusetts residents who are 18 or will be 18 at the time of the election

- You may pre-register when you turn 16 and your name will be transferred onto the registered list once you are eligible

- Anyone with a valid Massachusetts I.D.

Who can’t vote?

- In Massachusetts, those who are currently in prison can not vote, although voting rights are returned once released from prison.

- Ex-offenders have to re-register to vote.- Can not vote if you are not a U.S citizen.- If you have moved to a different state, you should not vote in

the town you used to live in. You must re-register for a new voting address.

Important Deadlines * YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO VOTE BY WEDNESDAY,

OCTOBER 17 *

Can’t make the November 6 voting day?There will be an alternate voting opportunity for early voting!

Come to the City Hall auditorium: October 22-November 2 during normal business hours

Have you Moved?

You’ll need to update your registration!

It is as simple as visiting the Clerk’s office and filling out a new voter registration form.

You may also re-register online at:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/

2018 Ballot Questions

https://ehop.org/2018/07/ballot-questions-set-for-november-state-election/

Ballot Question One

Ballot Question 1

Patient-to-Nurse Limits:

Have you ever wondered how many patients a nurse cares for at a time? Ballot question 1 addresses this topic. According to the Boston News, this question would place a limit on the number of patients a single nurse can be assigned to at a time and impose a $25,000 fine on hospitals that violate the ratios. Ratios vary depending on the department and type of patients.

If you say YES to Question 1Voting yes to this question would put a limit on how many patients a nurse can be assigned to.

A fine of $25,000 would be put in place to any corporation or hospital that goes above this limit.

Limits are determined by the type of department a nurse is working in, such as emergency rooms and recovery rooms.

The Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Care is leading the campaign to support question 1, and is backed up by the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

Click here to visit the Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Cares’ Website

Voting Yes ContinuedNurses say that they are not able to give patients as much comfort and care that they can because they are assigned too many patients.

Giving a limit to the amount of patients could open up an opportunity to give nurses more jobs, and could cut down Emergency Room wait time because more nurses will be available.

This would also reduce the amount of mistakes nurses would make because there would be more time to focus on patients.

click here to learn more about Question 1

If you say NO to Question 1Wait times remain the same and do not increase which is key when dealing with worsening medical emergencies.

Doctors, nurses and hospital administrators are able to make decisions about staffing as opposed to the government.

Saving on costs will prevent the closure of some hospitals, health programs, and health clinics.

People dealing with substance abuse, behavioral issues, and senior citizens retain the care they could have lost.

Lesser demand for nurses means that there is no need for hospitals to hire less experienced nurses.

For information from WGBH click here

For information about the bill click here

Visit the Coalition to Protect Patient Health here

For More Information About Question 1:https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/20/nurses-union-hospitals-battle-over-ballot-question-setting-patient-limits/Wgz4AxjKD3LJWr8THAGPnI/story.html

This article from the Boston Globe gives insight on what question 1 is, and what would happen if the majority of voters vote YES on this question.

https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2018/07/02/voters-to-decide-whether-to-limit-how-many-patie++nts-nurse-can-be-assigned

This article from WGBH News that discusses the answers to some questions that voters may have about Question 1 such as, what the ballot measure do, who supports this, who opposes this, do other states do this, and other questions that voters may have.

For More Information About Question 1:

https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_Question_1,_Nurse-Patient_Assignment_Limits_Initiative_(2018)

In this article who in Massachusetts supports question 1 and who opposes question 1. In addition, you can see a poll taken by The Boston Globe and Suffolk University on how many people support, oppose, or are undecided about the issue.

https://www.wcvb.com/article/mass-nurses-question-campaign-ads-running-about-question-1/22793829

This article contains a video about nurses campaigning for a yes vote on question one.

https://www.protectpatientsafety.com/2018/08/15/mayors-across-massachusetts-announce-opposition-to-question-1/

This article contains an opposition to question one.

Ballot Question Two

Ballot Question 2

Question 2 would create a citizen commission to push a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision on campaign finance.

It is said that the controversial ruling, which held that the government could not restrict political spending by corporations, increased the undue influence of money in politics and is potentially a serious and direct threat to democracy.

Massachusetts’s top elected officials would appoint members to the 15-person commission, which would go on to research the current campaign finance system and recommend an amendment to overturn Citizens United.

For & Against Question 2

➢ A yes vote is a vote in favor of establishing...

➢ A no vote is a vote against creating...

a 15-member citizens commission to advocate for certain amendments to the

United States Constitution regarding political spending and corporate personhood.

For further information on this ballot question visit: https://www.bostonglobe.com/section/question2

https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_Question_2,_Advisory_Commission_for_Amendments_to_the_U.S._Constitution_Regarding_Corporate_Personhood_and_Political_Spending_Initiative_(2018)

Ballot Question Three

Ballot Question 3● Want to know more about ballot question 3?● Ballot question 3 would prohibit discrimination in public places on the basis

of gender identity. Such grounds include race, national origin, religious creed, sex, disability etc.

● This law requires that any place that has areas for males and females to allow access to these areas consistent with a person’s gender identity. In other words a person should be able to use the bathroom based on their gender identification.

Ballot question 3 is supported by Freedom for all Massachusetts.

History of Ballot Question #3

● The transgender bathroom law was put into effect in October 2016, passed by Gov. Charlie Baker.

● The law was conceived due to transgender citizens not feeling comfortable with bathrooms they could choose.

● Since the law’s inception, people have opposed it because they are afraid that bad people will abuse it.

YES on Ballot Question #3

A “yes” vote to this question keeps the law in place.

Discrimination of gender identity in places of public accommodation such as bathrooms and restaurants would continue to be prohibited by law.

There has not been a single incident of assault since the initial law came into place.

NO on Ballot Question #3

A “no” vote on Question #3 repeals SB 2407, meaning transgender people will no longer be able to use the bathroom/locker room/changing room for the gender that they identify with in every public place

● Most “no” voters believe the act takes away privacy from women● Many believe sex offenders take advantage of the law● Supported by “Keep MA Safe” & “Massachusetts Family Institute”

More Information on Question 3

● To learn more about Question 3 and what your vote means, check out: Massachusetts Question 3, Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Veto Referendum (2018)

● To learn who is voting yes and why, check out: Yes on 3: Freedom for All MassachusettsTrans Ballot 2018: Fact Sheet and Talking Points

● To learn who is voting no and why, check out: Massachusetts Family Institute Keep MA Safe

Why You Should Vote!

Why Your Vote Matters

● Elections can be VERY close - your vote could make the difference!!

● If you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain

● Don’t be discouraged by early media predictions - they could be wrong

● If everybody stayed home because their vote “doesn’t matter,” those that do show up have more power. Does that seem fair??

● IT’S YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT!!

Why You Should Vote!

Voting is where you can make a difference. Every vote counts, and you could make or break the equality between the people running for elections.

Do NOT take voting for granted!

Oh no! I can’t vote due to my gender, race and/or religion! SAYS NO AMERICAN

Check this video out for more information!https://www.ted.com/talks/eric_liu_there_s_no_such_thing_as_not_voting/transcript

● The Vatican City and Saudi Arabia still do not let women completely vote.

● In some other countries women have restrictions on voting and men do not (like Lebanon).

● Citizens in China, Iran, North Korea, and many more, do not have the right to vote.

● In Australia, Turkey, Peru, and others get fined for not participating in the voting process.

WOW that was close!

● Election of 2000● Bush won in Florida by margin of 0.01% -

machine recount typically required● 5-4 Supreme court vote ● 25 Electoral votes given to Bush● Difference of fewer than 600 votes!

● According to boston.com “Following the 3rd Congressional District’s highly contested Democratic primary election, Secretary of State William Galvin has ordered a recount after a petition was filed by candidate Dan Koh, who trails frontrunner Lori Trahan by less than one half of a percent.”

● Trahan named winner after recount.

Bush v. Gore Trahan v. Koh

Voting Through the Years

1776- Right to vote is restricted to property owners—most of whom are white male Protestants over the age of 21.1787- States decide who can vote. Voting mainly remains in the hands of white male landowners.1789- Only 6% of the population can vote.1790- Citizen=White. Naturalization Law passed. Only “free white” immigrants can become naturalized citizens. 1848- Activists for ending slavery and women’s rights join together. Frederick Douglass speech helps convince the convention to adopt a resolution calling for voting rights for women. English language requirements and violent intimidation limit access to voting rights.1856- Voting rights expanded to all white men. North Carolina is the last state to remove property ownership as a requirement to vote.1866- Movements unite and divide. Two women’s rights activists, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, form an organization for white and black women and men dedicated to the goal of universal voting rights.

- 1868: 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed. Citizenship and right to vote granted to former slaves (Voting only for males)

- 1870: 15th Amendment passed. It states that the right to vote cannot be denied by the federal or state governments based on race.

- 1872: Susan B. Anthony is arrested in Rochester, New York, for attempting to vote in the presidential election. On the same day, Sojourner Truth, a former slave and advocate for justice and equality, demanded a ballot in Michigan but is denied.

- 1876: The Supreme Court rules that Native Americans are not citizens as defined by the 14th Amendment so they cannot vote.

- 1882: Chinese exclusion act stops people of Chinese ancestry from becoming citizens

- 1887: Native Americans who give up tribal affiliations are granted citizenship.

- 1890: Wyoming becomes first state to legislate voting for women in its constitution.

1920- 19th amendment passed granting women the right to vote in both state and federal elections

1922- Supreme court rules that Japanese people are ineligible to become citizens

1924- Native Americans granted citizenship but many states create laws to prevent them from voting

1947- Legal barriers for Native Americans removed. Finally given the right to vote

1952-McCarran-Walter Act, all people of Asian descent can become U.S. citizens

1961- 23rd amendment passed, gives citizens of Washington D.C. the right to vote

1963-1964- Voting rights as Civil Rights

1964- No special tax to vote, will not be denied for failure to pay taxes

1965- Grassroots movements, forbids state from imposing discriminatory restrictions for those who can and can not vote

1966- The “Walk Against Fear”

1971- The voting age is lowered to 18

1975- Voting materials in various languages: Amendments to Voting Rights Act allow for ballots to be printed in languages other than English in order to allow those who are not fluent in English to vote.

1993- Making voter registration easier: National Voter Registration Act passed in order to make voting more available by allowing for registration at DMV’s and public assistance/disability agencies.

- 2000: Residents of U.S. colonies are citizens, but cannot vote: Those living in U.S Territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and U.S Virgin Islands cannot vote for Presidency.

- 2001: Debate—Should voting rights be taken away from felons? For how long?: The National Commission on Federal Election Reform believes that felons should be allowed to vote after their release from jail.

- 2002: Help America Vote Act (HAVA): provisional ballots, disability access, centralized, computerized voting lists, electronic voting and requirement that first-time voters present identification before voting are added to voting laws.

Works CitedVoter Registration Info: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote https://www.amesburyma.gov/clerk/pages/electionshttps://www.resetsanfrancisco.org/reset-revealed/san-francisco-voter-guide/https://18f.gsa.gov/2016/09/27/usa-gov-updates-vote-gov-now-leaner-faster-multilingual/https://www.google.com/search?biw=1040&bih=844&ei=inmqW4fhCZDu_Qa1x5boDA&q=who+can%27t+vote+in+mass&oq=who+can%27t+vote+in+mass&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i30l3j0i8i30.2367.2925..3375...0.0..0.63.124.2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.su27T1sdotA &safe=active&ssui=on

https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/if_you_dont_live_there_anymore.htmlBallot Question 1:https://a.s.kqed.net/pdf/education/digitalmedia/us-voting-rights-timeline.pdf

Ballot Question 2: https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_Question_1,_Nurse-Patient_Assignment_Limits_Initiative_(2018)

https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_Question_1,_Nurse-Patient_Assignment_Limits_Initiative_(2018)

Ballot Question 3:

https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2018/07/09/massachusetts-ballot-questions-2018\

Why You Should Vote: https://patch.com/massachusetts/beaconhill/ma-ballot-questions-2018-what-we-are-voting

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele18/ballot_questions_18/ballot_questions18.htm

https://www.freedomforallamericans.org/freedom-for-all-massachusetts-launches-campaign-to-defend-transgender-dignity-at-the-ballot-in-november/

http://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=8hplfmCJ&id=12B36444ADD46F180EDF02D7C6EB538BA221A8E2&thid=OIP.1UJhiHq94wU5TQ6CIytoqwHaEc&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fwikipedia%2fcommons%2fthumb%2fb%2fb0%2fTransgender_Pride_flag.svg%2f1920px-Transgender_Pride_flag.svg.png&exph=1152&expw=1920&q=transgender+flag&simid=608002883021376961&selectedIndex=4&adlt=strict&ajaxhist=0

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/231655593851-0-1/s-l1000.jpg