Senator Witkos Backs Calls for Expanded Absentee Ballot Eligibility

July 22, 2020

State Senator Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) has announced his support of expanding no excuse absentee ballot voting in the November election due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

“With the very real and valid health concerns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the legislature should do what we can to ensure that voting can be done safely for all people, especially those who are at higher risk.  I applaud advocacy groups like AARP who have been championing this issue and have been looking out for the health and welfare of their members” said Senator Witkos.

 

“I look forward to reviewing the comments and testimony from the recent listening session held by the Government Administrations & Elections committee and I am hopeful that this will be something that our Registrars of Voters, Town and City Clerks and voting advocacy groups can all agree upon.  Though I do support expanded absentee ballot voting, I do not support the mass mailing of absentee ballot applications to all voters regardless of whether they’ve requested said application.  The mass mailing of applications sent out for the presidential primary have revealed that voter registration lists in some towns are outdated and inaccurate in certain circumstances.   If people choose to avail themselves of an absentee ballot, they have every availability to do so by contacting the Secretary of State’s office or their local Town Clerk” Senator Witkos added.