Welfare recipients to get voting papers

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A court ruling to mail voter registration letters to welfare recipients is heating up the race for Senate.

Senator Scott Brown and his challenger Elizabeth Warren are at odds over the decision to spend hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars to reach our states welfare community.

Pretty soon this voter registration letter will go out to all welfare recipients in Massachusetts.

The state will spend $276 thousand dollars to ensure everyone has the chance to vote.

This after a court ruled Massachusetts failed to comply with a federal law that requires everyone have the chance to register to vote when they sign up for public assistance.

State officials agreed with the decision and also decided to also put TVs in the waiting rooms of welfare offices explaining to people how to vote.

The decision is heating up the US Senate race between Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren.

Brown calls it an effort to give Democrats an advantage in November.

Warren, who's daughter was directly tied to the lawsuit, says the lawsuit is about educating people about their rights - not getting more people to vote for her.

It's a debate that extends beyond the race for Senate.

"I don't understand why they're sending it out to people that are on welfare as opposed to someone who works, it doesn't really make any sense," said Brian Wildes, Warren.

"I think its worth it, I think so, it's important, everyone should vote, you know," said Springfield's Cecilio Rivera.

Agawam Town Clerk Richard Theroux says while it has become a battle for constituents in at least one political race, the ruling is intended to support a law designed to give everyone a chance to vote.

"They felt that this particular state agency was not promoting it enough, obviously the justices agreed and that's why this is being done, should taxpayers money be used for this, well the issue is, we want everyone to register to vote. we want them all to take part in the process," Theroux said.

We're not alone here, Lawsuits similar to this one have been filed in other states.