| Date: | 12/22/2022 |
|---|---|
| Organization: | Division of Local Mandates |
I want to thank you for your letter of December 9, 2022 regarding additional costs associated with fulfilling the mandate related to early voting and vote-by-mail. As you know, when the original mandate determination was issued in February 20171, it was in response to the expenses incurred in the first general election with early voting. Since that time, the nature of the mandate has changed, first in response to COVID-19 era special legislation and most recently the enactment of the VOTES Act. Based on the 2022 election cycle, vote-by-mail is the predominate form of early voting and I recognize the significant impact on the associated expenses.
Based on your information regarding additional expenses for vote-by-mail including labels and postage meter supplies I am exercising my authority under M.G.L. Chapter 11 Section 6B to update the February 2017 mandate determination. Accordingly, the Division of Local Mandates will make appropriate arrangements to collect information in the upcoming cost certification regarding early voting to include expenses related to vote-by-mail and postage meter supplies. Given the information provided by Foxborough and Easton, we estimate that the items will add over $400,000 to the statewide total of reimbursable costs.