BOSTON (SHNS) - State health officials have delayed launching a new online death registration system, saying the longer transition time will allow city and town clerks to first handle election responsibilities. The Massachusetts Vital Records Information Collaborative will now launch on Nov. 18. Officials had previously targeted a Sept. 30 rollout, a Department of Public Health spokesperson said. DPH adjusted the date "until after the general election in support of the Massachusetts City and Town Clerks to ensure a smooth election process for voters and communities," according to a message the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) sent to "data partners" earlier this month and that was highlighted Monday by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association. "We appreciate that our members will have additional time to prepare for and implement the new electronic death registration system," Elizabeth Turner Greendale, president of the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, said in the message, which was shared with the News Service. "We will continue to collaborate with the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics on a modernized, more streamlined system for all users in the Commonwealth." Officials said Dec. 15 is the final day for death records to be completed in the state's legacy Vitals Information Partnership system. RVRS said it will continue to provide training sessions and support through a help desk during the transition. The new registration system "offers more streamlined processes, enhanced functionality, and reduced paper-workflows," according to RVRS' website.