Galvin moving forward with sending vote-by-mail applications after funding dispute is resolved
The state’s top elections official is moving forward with sending out vote-by-mail ballot applications after the governor’s office agreed to advance funds included in a COVID-19 supplemental budget that is nearing final approval in the Legislature.
Both branches still need to take their final votes on the bill before sending the appropriations bill to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk, but a spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin's office confirmed to the News Service Tuesday that the administration provided funds and the secretary's office spent them. The provision of the funds appears to have ended a week-long dispute over whether the secretary's office could use federal funds through the CARES Act to cover postage costs associated with the massive mailing.
"The mailing is in process now," the spokesperson said when asked about when the applications would go out.
Election reform advocates filed a lawsuit Monday in an attempt to force the secretary of state to comply with a July 15 deadline to send applications for mail-in primary ballots outlined in a new state law. Galvin previously said he could not send out the applications until the Legislature provided funding for postage and advocates pointed to nearly $8.2 million in CARES Act funding set aside for COVID-19 election-related costs.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/15/metro/galvin-moving-forward-with-sending-vote-by-mail-applications-after-funding-dispute-is-resolved/
