Mass. Senate Approves Bill To Allow Early Voting

Massachusetts residents would be able to cast ballots up to 10 days before an election and register to vote on Election Day under a bill overwhelmingly approved by the state Senate.

The bill would also let voters register online.

The House last year approved a similar bill that would let voters cast ballots up to two weeks before a presidential election.

The Senate bill expands that to allow early voting in all biennial state elections and primaries by 2016.

The Senate rejected a Republican-sponsored amendment that would have required a voter to produce an ID or sign an affidavit saying they are eligible to vote before casting their ballot.

The bill also allows the preregistration of 16-year-olds.

The House and Senate will have to agree on a single version of the bill before shipping it to Gov. Deval Patrick.