An effort led by Massachusetts Republicans to block election officials from putting into effect the state’s new mail-in and early voting law was denied yesterday by the state Supreme Judicial Court. According to NBC 10 in Providence, The decision ensures Massachusetts residents will be able to take advantage of the expanded voter options this year. Opponents had argued the new law, regarded as the VOTES Act, violates the state constitution. The bill was signed into law by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in late June after clearing the Democrat-controlled state Legislature. State election officials have already begun reading more than 4 point 7 million ballot applications to send to voters by July 23 ahead of the September 6 primary. Massachusetts joins 34 states and Washington DC in offering “no-excuse” absentee voting, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.