HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1161        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 658

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to early 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. Chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following:-

As used in this section, the following shall have the following meanings:-

“Early Voting” means casting a ballot prior to Election Day at a location designated by the supervisor of elections and depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system.

“Election” means any primary election, special primary election, special election, general election, or presidential preference primary election.

 Section 103B:  The supervisor of elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or branch office of the supervisor by depositing the voted ballot in a voting device used by the supervisor to collect or tabulate ballots. In order for a branch office to be used for early voting, it shall be a full-service facility of the supervisor and shall have been designated as such at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may designate any city hall or public library as early voting sites; however, if so designated, the sites must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable. The results or tabulation may not be made before the close of the polls on Election Day.

Early voting shall begin on the 15th day before an election and end on the day before an election. For purposes of a special election, early voting shall begin on the 8th day before an election and end on the day before an election. Early voting shall be provided for at least 8 hours per weekday during the applicable periods. Early voting shall also be provided for 8 hours in the aggregate for each weekend during the applicable periods.

(2)(a)  The elector must provide identification and must complete an Early Voting Voter Certificate in substantially the following form:

EARLY VOTING VOTER CERTIFICATE            I, _____, am a qualified elector in this election and registered voter of _____ County, Massachusetts. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am the person so listed on the voter registration rolls of _____ County and that I reside at the listed address. I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election I could be convicted of a felony of the third degree and both fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years. I understand that my failure to sign this certificate invalidates my ballot.