MassVOTE Rallies Support To Appoint Interim Senator

The voting rights group MassVOTE is organizing supporters behind a proposal to allow the governor to appoint an interim senator until a special election is held to fill the late Edward M. Kennedy's vacant Senate seat.

Avi Green, MassVOTE's executive director, said supporters are eager to make sure the state has two senators.

"Right now there's very important decisions being made in the U.S. Senate on issues of the economy, issues of war and peace, appointments, healthcare," Green said. "They're eager to make sure Massachusetts has two senators."

Kennedy, before he died Aug. 25, asked Gov. Deval Patrick and state lawmakers to change state law and allow an interim appointment.