US election officials implement ballot and registration updates

Election officials in Massachusetts and Vermont are implementing administrative updates ahead of upcoming elections.

In Massachusetts, Secretary of State William Galvin is updating the colors of primary ballots to better align with national political party associations. Previously, Republican ballots were shades of blue and Democratic ballots were shades of red. The change aims to reduce voter confusion and errors by matching the colors typically associated with each party.

In Vermont, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is urging residents to verify their mailing addresses before the state begins sending out ballots for the general election. Under state law, every registered voter is mailed a ballot. Officials noted that nearly two-thirds of Vermont voters used mail-in or absentee voting in the 2024 election and emphasized the importance of accurate records to ensure ballots reach the correct locations.