AGAWAM, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Agawam City Council passed a resolution Monday night to show their support for adding ID requirements statewide.

Supporters of the resolution said it’s about election integrity and public confidence, but many residents who showed up said it could pave the way for stricter ID rules that would make it harder for some eligible voters to cast a ballot.

T.R. 2026-39 passed seven to four Monday night, a resolution supporting voter identification requirements at the polls.

The resolution does not change voting rules in Agawam, but it does send a message to state and federal leaders about where the council stands.

Nearly 100 residents packed the meeting with several speaking out against the resolution, saying it’s vague and could be interpreted as support for more restrictive laws.

“Consideration should be given to those who face a real risk of disenfranchisement if such laws are adopted, particularly elderly voters who no longer drive, lower income voters, and people who recently moved,” said Agawam resident Karen Sullivan.

Meanwhile, other Agawam residents say having voter ID laws in place is a commonsense safeguard at the polls.

“Requiring ID as an additional layer of security helps ensure each voter is who they claim to be,” said resident Leak Russell. “Verifying identity helps protect the integrity of elections, the importance of voter ID cannot be overstated.”

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