Springfield — PVP leaders are raising concerns regarding data that shows dramatic differences in numbers of inactive voters in wards across Springfield. These leaders recently held a press conference to demand answers. Massachusetts law mandates an annual street listing, or census of residents in each city and town. As stated on the City of Springfield’s Elections Department home page, “Failure to respond to the census shall result in removal from the active voting list.”
When a voter is on the inactive voter list and goes to their polling place to vote, they are required to provide identification which shows their name and address where they are registered to vote. It’s important to note that in Massachusetts, voters are generally not required to present identification when they go to vote. If a voter is informed that they are on the Inactive Voter List and doesn’t have acceptable identification with them, they are asked to return home and bring back such identification. PVP leaders are concerned that this can create a barrier that can disproportionately impact low- income voters.
According to State Voices, a database used by PVP and organizations across the country doing non-partisan civic engagement work, the total number of inactive voters in Springfield as of June 6th was as follows: Ward 1—5,847, Ward 2—5,487, Ward 3—5,282 and Ward 4—3,746. The total number of inactive voters in Ward 5 was 34, in Ward 6 it was 48, in Ward 7 it was 35 and in Ward 8 it was 28. (emphasis added) The Springfield Election Office is charged with maintaining the Inactive Voter List.
“This data raises many questions,” said Rev. David Lewis, president of Pioneer Valley Project, during the press conference. “Why are the numbers of inactive voters in our city so different across wards? How long have these numbers been like this? Which residents may be benefitting from these huge variations in numbers of inactive voters and which residents may be harmed? How have our local, state and federal elections been impacted by this? We are here to ask these questions in public of our Mayor, Domenic Sarno. Not only do we expect answers to our questions as an organization, but we believe that all voters in Springfield deserve answers to our questions.” ■