Voter Access
Michael believes that participation in local government is essential to a functioning, healthy democracy. As such, he has taken a number of steps to make it easier for Bostonians to participate in their government. Most of these efforts are handled by the Government Operations Committee on the City Council, which Michael leads. This gives him a central role in working to pass these laws.
In 2014, Michael led a Multilingual Ballot effort through his committee. This ordinance added many languages, including Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese, to the ballots in local elections. Michael firmly believes that Bostonians should be able to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their comfort level with reading English.
In 2015, Michael supported an ordinance creating early voting in Boston. He felt it was a priority to make it easier for people with less flexible schedules to be able to vote, recognizing that expanded early voting would greatly increase access to participation in our democracy for Bostonians of all backgrounds.
In 2018, Michael introduced an ordinance to Increase Access to Voter Registration through his committee. This allowed people to register to vote in municipal buildings across the city, making sure people can register to vote in their own neighborhoods.
In 2014, Michael led a Multilingual Ballot effort through his committee. This ordinance added many languages, including Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese, to the ballots in local elections. Michael firmly believes that Bostonians should be able to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their comfort level with reading English.
In 2015, Michael supported an ordinance creating early voting in Boston. He felt it was a priority to make it easier for people with less flexible schedules to be able to vote, recognizing that expanded early voting would greatly increase access to participation in our democracy for Bostonians of all backgrounds.
In 2018, Michael introduced an ordinance to Increase Access to Voter Registration through his committee. This allowed people to register to vote in municipal buildings across the city, making sure people can register to vote in their own neighborhoods.
Immigration
Michael has a long record of working to ensure all Bostonians are treated fairly, regardless of their citizenship status. He has taken steps to protect Boston residents with Temporary Protected Status who have sought refuge in the city, and to ensure our local police are not working with federal officials on immigration matters.
Michael supported the Trust Act in 2014, which stopped ICE from forcing the Boston Police Department to help them detain undocumented workers who had not committed a crime. In the light of current administration in DC, he has supported recent efforts on the City Council to strengthen the Trust Act.
Michael supported the Trust Act in 2014, which stopped ICE from forcing the Boston Police Department to help them detain undocumented workers who had not committed a crime. In the light of current administration in DC, he has supported recent efforts on the City Council to strengthen the Trust Act.
Equality
As the first citywide elected official in Massachusetts to support marriage equality in 2001, back when it was an unpopular position, Michael has been a leading voice in the expansion of protections for all members of the LGBTQ community. Michael saw firsthand the struggle a relative faced as a gay man who was oppressed by his community and vowed to do all he could to destigmatize LGBTQ lifestyles and protect members of that community in Boston.
Since his first year as a City Councilor, Michael has been a leading voice in the expansion of protections for all members of the LGBTQ community. He has been working to add educational, recreational, employment opportunity, financial, and public accommodation protections for gender identity expression and sexual orientation. Michael sponsored an initiative in 2016 to support a resolution adopting Protections in Public Accommodations for Transgender individuals in Boston.
Michael firmly believes that no person should be discriminated against on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity and will continue to fight for those protections.
Since his first year as a City Councilor, Michael has been a leading voice in the expansion of protections for all members of the LGBTQ community. He has been working to add educational, recreational, employment opportunity, financial, and public accommodation protections for gender identity expression and sexual orientation. Michael sponsored an initiative in 2016 to support a resolution adopting Protections in Public Accommodations for Transgender individuals in Boston.
Michael firmly believes that no person should be discriminated against on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity and will continue to fight for those protections.
Paid for by The Committee to Elect Michael F. Flaherty