HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 229        FILED ON: 1/11/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 685

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Sean Garballey and Cindy F. Friedman

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act authorizing the town of Arlington to offer early voting in town elections.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

1/10/2023

Cindy F. Friedman

Fourth Middlesex

1/11/2023

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

1/17/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 229        FILED ON: 1/11/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 685

By Representative Garballey of Arlington and Senator Friedman, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 685) of Sean Garballey, Cindy F. Friedman and David M. Rogers (by vote of the town) that the town of Arlington be authorized to offer early voting in town elections in said town.  Election Laws.  [Local Approval Received.]

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 5430 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act authorizing the town of Arlington to offer early voting in town elections.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the town of Arlington shall allow any qualified voter, as defined in section 1 of chapter 51 of the General Laws, to vote early in person for any regular or special town election. Any voter wishing to vote early in person may do so at the time, manner and location prescribed in this section.

(a) The early voting period shall be set by the select board in consultation with the Arlington town clerk. The early voting period shall include a minimum of 3 business days during the regular hours of the Arlington town clerk’s office, and may include additional days, so long as it ends no later than the date determined by the town clerk as necessary to prepare a final voting list for the polls on election day. At least 1 early voting weekday shall extend until at least 7 p.m. For any town election held on a weekday, at least 1 weekend day shall be included in the early voting period.

(b) The select board, in consultation with the town clerk, shall establish an early voting site for early in-person voting under this section that is centrally-located, suitable, and in a convenient public building. The early voting site shall be accessible to persons with disabilities. The designation of an early voting site shall be made not less than 14 days prior to the beginning of the voting period established in subsection (a). Notice of the early voting location, dates, and hours shall be posted in the office of the town clerk and on the town's website not less than 7 days before the early voting period begins.

(c) The voting, processing, and counting procedures for early voting ballots shall be consistent with section 25B of chapter 54 of the General Laws and the regulations promulgated by the state secretary for the administration of early voting appearing at 950 CMR 47.00, to the extent practicable.

SECTION 2: This act shall take effect upon its passage.