AN ACT TEMPORARILY EXTENDING THE GRACE PERIOD FOR VOTER RESIDENCY.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide forthwith for voting for the citizens of the commonwealth who have moved within the commonwealth and not re-registered to vote, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
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. Section 1 of chapter 51 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- A person otherwise qualified to vote for national or state officers shall not, by reason of a change of residence within the commonwealth, be disqualified from voting for national officers and statewide ballot questions in the city or town from which he has removed his residence until the expiration of 18 months from such removal.
SECTION 2. Said section 1 of said chapter 51, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- A person otherwise qualified to vote for national or state officers shall not, by reason of a change of residence within the commonwealth, be disqualified from voting for such national or state officers in the city or town from which he has removed his residence until the expiration of 6 months from such removal.
SECTION 3. Section 1 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. Sections 2 and 3 shall take effect on November 5, 2008.
Approved October 29, 2008