Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin on Thursday endorsed a bill to implement automatic voter registration and stressed the importance of passing it this year.

Galvin, the state's top elections official, said his office will need time to implement the change, in order for people to be automatically enrolled to vote in time for the 2020 presidential election.

"If I could snap my fingers and make it happen, I would, but I can't. My fingers aren't that good," Galvin said. "I have to work, we need time."

The automatic voter registration proposal, H.4320, was reported favorably out of the Election Laws committee and is now pending before the Ways and Means Committee, which will determine how much it will cost.

Under the legislation, the Registry of Motor Vehicles and MassHealth would automatically register citizens to vote when they complete a RMV or MassHealth transaction. A person would be notified and could choose to opt out.

Massachusetts would be the first state to automatically enroll people using its Medicaid program, although New York and Kentucky both enroll voters through multiple social service agencies. Ten states and Washington, D.C. have some form of automatic voter registration, generally through a registry of motor vehicles database.

The bills were sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, and the late Rep. Peter Kocot, D-Northampton.

Galvin said he has been talking to a coalition of AVR supporters since June and worked with them to arrive at a piece of legislation that he was able to support.

Galvin announced his support at a press conference in his office, surrounded by advocates for the bill.

Meryl Kessler, executive director of the Massachusetts League of Women Voters, said automatic voter registration will "expand access to the ballot by removing unnecessary obstacles to registration, and at same time make registration more accurate, secure and inclusive."

Janet Domenitz, executive director of MassPIRG, said the policy would register more young people to vote. "We think that bodes well for the future," she said.

The bill has been pending in the Legislature for three sessions, but it has gotten more attention this year. This is the first year it has been reported favorably out of a legislative committee. There is a larger coalition backing it, including 61 groups, representing a range of minority communities, progressive organizing groups, unions and voters rights groups. Attorney General Maura Healey has also backed it.

The bill has 84 co-sponsors. The entire Springfield delegation is supportive.

Galvin voiced his support for the bill as he is facing a Democratic primary challenge from Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim. Zakim's platform has centered on making voting more accessible. Zakim said he has supported automatic voter registration since he joined the city council in 2013.

"I'd like to welcome Secretary Galvin to the side that supports automatic voter registration," Zakim said in a statement. "It's interesting that after literally decades of ignoring AVR amid plummeting voter turnout rates, the incumbent now sees the wisdom of it when he has an opponent in his re-election campaign."

Galvin also faces a Republican challenge from Anthony Amore, the security director for Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Asked for his reaction to Amore's entrance into the race, Galvin said "wonderful," adding that he has had Republican opponents before.

Asked about Zakim challenging him to multiple debates, Galvin said, "I'm sure there will be an opportunity" to debate with Zakim. He declined to say how many times he would go face to face with his opponent.

"I actually have a job I have to work at," Galvin said.