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By Joseph A. Curtatone

Voting is one of the most fundamental aspects of our democracy, so it makes sense that throughout history the trend has been to expand voting rights. But along with expanding voting rights, we need to keep looking at how we can make it easier for everyone to participate in elections. There are often barriers that keep people away from the polls, but when we remove them we get broader participation in our democracy.

One of those barriers is when we hold elections just on one day, during the week, and when many people work. To help address that, in 2016 Massachusetts voters had their first opportunity to vote early, and it turns out that when you give people more options for when they can vote, they take advantage of them.

Although early voting was put into place for state elections, 2016 coincided with a presidential election. Normally we see the highest voter turnouts during presidential elections, so it wasn’t a surprise that 2016’s turnout was high. But even compared to other presidential elections, 2016 stood out – 30,430 ballots were cast in 2004; 33,061 in 2008; 35,450 in 2012; and 57,316 in 2016 with more than 16,000 voters taking advantage of early voting. Statewide, many communities saw bigger turnouts as well. About one million Massachusetts voters – that’s more than 22% of the state’s registered voters – voted early.

This year, for the first time, Massachusetts voters will be able to cast an early ballot for the presidential primary. Along with Election Day on Tuesday, March 3, Somerville voters can take advantage of early voting hours at City Hall during the last week of February:

• Monday, February 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 25, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 26, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, February 27, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, February 28, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

With six days of voting and the option to use an absentee ballot if you’re unable to make it to the polls, I hope everyone who can will exercise their right to vote and make 2020 a year of record turnout.

It’s important to remember that early voting is just one of many ways to increase participation in democracy. In 2018 Somerville’s Clean and Open Elections Task Force issued a report with a series of recommendations for how we can increase voter participation, increase the number and diversity of candidates running for public office, and increase the openness and transparency of elections.

One of those suggestions that I’ve recently been advocating for is to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections. Somerville has submitted a home rule petition to the state to allow us to do that and there are bills working their way through Beacon Hill that would give all Massachusetts cities and towns the option to do the same. It’s a move to let more people have a say in the issues and decisions that affect their day-to-day lives.

To uphold our democracy, we need as many people as possible to get involved with government at all levels. One of the most basic ways to do that is with your vote, and it’s on us – local, state, and federal government – to continue to look at voting and elections to make sure they’re accessible, fair, and allow everyone who is able to participate.

For more information about voting early or other election-related matters, visit the Elections Department website at www.somervillema.gov/elections or by calling 311.