Massachusetts Covid Legal Information
We drew these resources principally from Justin Levitt's list of COVID-19 election cases, Standford-MIT Healthy Elections Project COVID-Related Election Litigation Tracker, and the National Center for State Legislatures' COVID-19 and 2020 Primary Elections page.
Litigation Tracker
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Goldstein v. Secretary of the Commonwealth
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Petition Granted 4/17
Date Filed
08/04/2020
Court
Massachusetts Supreme Court
Description
Challenge to signature requirements. Court reduced signature requirements and allowed electronic signatures.
Links
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Campbell v. Galvin
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Dismissed 6/2, Affirmed 7/13
Date Filed
05/05/2020
Court
Massachusetts Supreme Court
Description
Requesting a reduction in the number of certified voter signatures required to place a candidate on the ballot.
Links
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Brady v. State Ballot Law Commission
Topics
Signature Requirements
Status
Transferred 7/2, Affirmed 7/13
Date Filed
05/05/2020
Court
Massachusetts Supreme Court
Description
Challenge to the State Ballot Law Commission's decision preventing a candidate from appearing on the ballot.
Links
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Bertin v. Galvin
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Voluntarily Dismissed 7/22
Date Filed
13/07/2020
Court
Massachusetts Supreme Court
Description
Request for the court to order the Secretary of the Commonwealth to comply with safer voting law requirements.
Links
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Grossman v. Galvin
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Denied on 8/26
Date Filed
19/08/2020
Court
Massachusetts Supreme Court
Description
Challenge to mail-in ballot deadline requirements.
Links
Executive Actions
Legislative Actions
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MA HB 4623
Topics
Absentee Voting; Excuse Requirements
Description
Expands absentee voting to all voters.
Links
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MA HB 4699
Topics
Vote by Mail
Description
Establishes vote by mail elections for 2020 and the Vote by Mail Fund; and allows the use of HAVA funds.
Links
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MA HB 4737
Topics
Vote by Mail; Absentee Voting; Electronic Ballot Applications; In-Person Voting; Safety Measures; Polling Locations
Description
Provides that all registered voters shall be mailed a ballot for all elections in 2020 and an absentee ballot drop box; establishes electronic absentee voting ballot application and tracking portal; allows absentee and early voting ballots to be scanned instead of "transmitted;" allows the state secretary to adopt public health and safety measures at polling places; and permits election officers to be residents of different cities/towns and nonvoters.
Links
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MA HD 4928
Topics
Election Postponement; Emergency
Description
Authorizes the State Secretary to regulate elections in certain emergency situations.
Links
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MA SB 2608
Topics
Election Postponement
Date Filed
23/03/2020
Description
Authorizes the rescheduling municipal elections.
Links
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MA SB 2609
Topics
Election Postponement
Description
Postpones special elections to fill the vacancies in senatorial districts.
Links
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MA SB 2653
Topics
Early Voting; Vote by Mail
Description
Expands early voting and allows vote by mail for elections in 2020.
Links