Our History

Since 1970, Common Cause Massachusetts has fought for comprehensive democracy reforms.

1973 Law requiring registration and reporting by lobbyists passed

1974 Open Meeting Law enacted and Office of Campaign and Political Finance created

1978 State Ethics Commission created and Financial Disclosure Law and updates to Conflict of Interest Law enacted

1980 State Office of Inspector General created

1987 Political action committee contributions to politicians limited

1991 Effort to abolish and weaken state watchdog agencies defeated

1994 Statewide campaign finance reform increasing disclosure and lowering campaign contribution limits passed

1998 Clean Elections Law ballot initiative passed

2002 Inspector General’s office saved from repeal and legislative leaders pay raise defeated

2004 Redistricting reform initiatives qualified and passed in 15 districts

2005 Redistricting reform garners endorsements form bi-partisan list of gubernatorial candidates and 60,000 registered voters

2006 Common Cause’s Campaign for Open Government triples number of cities and towns posting basic information on the Internet

2008 National Popular Vote legislation passes both houses and Election Day registration legislation passes Senate

2009 Comprehensive ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance disclosure legislation passed

2010 National Popular Vote legislation enacted and signed by Governor Deval Patrick

2011 Common Cause holds Redistricting Olympics and pushes legislature to adopt nationally acclaimed open and transparent redistricting process

2012 Legislature and 174 municipalities pass resolutions endorsing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. The Democracy Amendment ballot question calling for a constitutional amendment is supported by 79% of 1,000,000 voters

2014 MA Disclose Act requiring historic transparency for SuperPACs and the comprehensive Election Modernization Act, establishing Early Voting, online registration, pre-registration, audits of election equipment and more enacted by the legislature

2016 Key updates added to strengthen the MA Disclose Act and Early Voting implemented for the first time in Massachusetts, widely considered a success thanks to the Early Voting Challenge

2018 Automatic Voter Registration legislation passes both houses and signed by Governor Charlie Baker

2020 Save Voting Options in Response to COVID-19 was passed by both houses and signed by Governor Charlie Baker temporarily allowing vote by mail and extended early voting

2022 The VOTES Act was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker. This historic reform made permanent no-excuse vote by mail, extended early voting to two weeks, strengthened jail-based voting, enrolled Massachusetts into the Electronic Registration and Information Center (ERIC) and ensured back-end Automatic Voter Registration through the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

2023 No Cost Calls passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey making jail and prison phone calls free in Massachusetts.