By CHRIS COLLINS
(Sunderland, MA) — A Western Mass. state representative is dismissing as “specious” the argument that allowing people to vote by mail will lead to voter fraud in Massachusetts.
First Franklin District State Rep. Natalie Blais (D-Sunderland) says the authors of the recently-passed state voter reform law went to great lengths to ensure that voter fraud would not be an issue moving forward.
“The legislation actually provides for MORE restrictions than the previous law, and thus is safer than what we already had on the books” Blais said.
Blais added that Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin takes the issue of potential voter fraud very seriously.
“He has made it clear that voter fraud is a federal crime, and anyone caught engaging in it will be prosecuted,” Blais added.
The concept of voting by mail–which Massachusetts residents will be able to do for the first time during the state primary September 1 and the November general election–has been criticized largely by supporters of President Trump, who have argued that allowing the practice could create the possibility of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.