Mass. House Lawmakers Embrace Early Voting Bill

A bill that would allow for early voting in Massachusetts during presidential elections and for online voter registration has cleared the state House of Representatives.

The bill was approved 141-10 on Wednesday. It now goes to the Senate.

Under the measure, voters could cast ballots at polling places in their cities or towns up to two weeks before a presidential election, excluding weekends. If given final approval, early voting could take effect for the 2016 election.

More than 30 other states allow some form of early voting and more than a dozen offer online voter registration.

Supporters say the proposals would increase participation in the electoral process in Massachusetts.

The House rebuffed a Republican-backed effort to require voters to show identification before early voting, but agreed to study the question further.