Mass. doesn't offer early voting

AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) - The election is now just four days away, and early voting has been going on for weeks in many states.

However, there is no early voting in Massachusetts. Instead, according to the Agawam Town Clerk, many people are using absentee ballots to cast their early votes.

Some think the state should look at changing the law and allowing for early voting in the commonwealth.

Town Clerk Richard Theroux told 22News, “I think our laws have to start getting up with the times that we have, and in other states that have more progressive voting laws and I think we need to move in that direction.”

Sen. Michael Knapik, a Republican from the 2nd Hampden District, said,“We ought to be able to make it easier. You see thousands of absentee ballots coming in ahead of time so from the point of view of process, make it easier for the clerks number one, but most especially increase voter participation and turnout by simply making it easier.”

Theroux said Agawam already has 1,000 absentee ballots and Springfield has 3,000.

These ballots all have to be processed on Election Day at the polling place while other voters wait to cast their ballots.