Common Cause Massachusetts is the Massachusetts state-level chapter of Common Cause, an advocacy group that promotes left-of-center policies. Common Cause Massachusetts has previously advocated in favor of state legislation advancing left-of-center policy on voting access, campaign finance, and government transparency. ^{1 2 3}

As of July 2025, Common Cause Massachusetts claims to have 20,000 members. ²

Platform

Common Cause Massachusetts published its legislative priorities for the 2025 to 2026 electoral period. ³

Voting and Elections

Common Cause Massachusetts has advocated a state-level legislative proposal that would eliminate the state’s ten-day pre-election voter registration cut-off requirement. ³

The group supports “An Act Decoupling the Municipal Census from Voter Registration,” which would prevent the municipal census from dropping voters from voting rolls should they fail to respond. ³

The group supports “An Act Enforcing Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities,” which would mandate an increase in inspections of voting facilities to ensure they are handicap accessible. ³

The group supports “An Act Strengthening the Post-Election Audit Process,” which would increase the rate of election audit frequency. ³

The organization supports the “Proposal for a Legislative Amendment to the Constitution Relative to Voting Rights,” a proposed state amendment that would legalize voting for former convicts. ³

Media and Democracy

Common Cause Massachusetts supports legislation requiring all government bodies (including cities and state agencies) to hold public meetings both in-person and remotely. ³

The organization supports legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during election campaigning. ³

Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Accountability

Common Cause Massachusetts supports “An Act Improving Campaign Finance Reporting By State Ballot Question Committees,” which would require ballot question committees to use a single state-wide reporting system. ³

The organization supports “An Act Limiting Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced Corporations,” which would prohibit corporations from electoral spending if “a single foreign shareholder owns more than 5% of a company’s shares or if over 20% of the total ownership is in foreign hands.” ³

The organization supports “An Act Making Records in the Office of the Governor Public.” ³

Redistricting and Representation

Common Cause Massachusetts supports “An Act Relative to Reprecincting,” which would permit the Massachusetts legislature to redraw administrative districts before municipalities submit their proposals to “best diversify representation” through drawing more “majority minority districts.” ³

Activities

In May 2025, Common Cause Massachusetts advocated for its members to sign Common Cause’s petition to the U.S. Congress calling for continued federal funding for public media including the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). Common Cause claims such actions are a “a powerful defense against the manipulation, disinformation, and propaganda that the Trump administration is pushing.” ^{4 5}

In 2020, Common Cause Massachusetts, MassVote, and several racial minority voters petitioned the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to require Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Galvin (D) to follow a state law requiring the state to send an application to request a mail-in ballot to voters by July 15. ⁶

Common Cause Massachusetts provided community advocacy by assisting Massachusetts state in registering to vote, verify their voting status, find polling locations, track their ballots, and request absentee ballots. ⁴

Leadership

Geoff Foster is the executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, holding the role since  December 2020. Foster previously worked for youth advocacy group UTEC. ⁷

Pam Wilmot was the previous executive director, working in the role until 2020 when she was promoted to vice president of state operations for the national Common Cause organization. ⁷

Maya Majikas has worked as a communications strategist at Common Cause Massachusetts since March 2025. Previously, Majikas worked as a communications director in the office of U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) and for the Minority Caucus in the Ohio House of Representatives. ⁸

1. “Our History.” Common Cause Massachusetts. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.commoncause.org/massachusetts/our-history/.
2. “Homepage.” Common Cause Massachusetts. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.commoncause.org/massachusetts/.
3. “Platform for People Power Legislative Priorities 2025-2026.” Common Cause Massachusetts. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.commoncause.org/massachusetts/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CCMA-Legislative-2025-26-10.pdf.
4. “Take Action.” Common Cause Massachusetts. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.commoncause.org/massachusetts/take-action/.
5. “Tell Congress: Protect Public Media.” Common Cause. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.commoncause.org/actions/tell-congress-protect-public-media-2/.
6. “Minority Voters Sue To Secure Mail-In Ballot Applications.” Lawyers for Civil Rights. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://lawyersforcivilrights.org/our-impact/voting-rights/minority-voters-sue-to-secure-mail-in-ballot-applications/.
7. “Geoff Foster Joins Common Cause Massachusetts as Executive Director.” Common Cause Massachusetts. December 1, 2020. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.commoncause.org/massachusetts/press/geoff-foster-joins-common-cause-massachusetts-as-executive-director/
8. “Maya Majikas.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 19, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-majikas-275544120/.