Today (Tuesday, September 28) is National Voter Registration Day, and there couldn't be a better day to reflect on how we can eliminate the unnecessary barriers people face to participating in our democracy.

This fall, the MA Legislature will likely pass an election reform package that makes permanent the popular voting reforms from the past two years like expanded early voting and vote-by-mail. However, just passing those alone is not enough. We have an opportunity to pass an ambitious bill that finally tackles some of the enduring obstacles to participation.

Tell your legislators that we need the strongest possible voting rights package this fall.

What does that mean?

It means passing Same Day Registration so that all eligible voters can register to vote or update their registration at the polls.

And that means passing strong language around Jail-Based Voting to end the de facto disenfranchisement that too often happens behind the wall and leaves returning citizens unsure about their rights.

We can pass a strong bill that includes such reforms, but for that to happen, your legislators need to be hearing from you.

Tell your legislators that we need the strongest possible voting rights package this fall.