HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2835        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 565

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Antonio F. D. Cabral

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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 to expand access to voter registration.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2835        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 565

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act to expand access to voter registration.

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 36 of chapter 51 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2010 official edition, is hereby amended in line 9 by striking “and Spanish” and inserting in place thereof “, Spanish and Portuguese”

SECTION 1. Chapter 51 is hereby amended by inserting after section 36 the following new section:-

Section 36A. The state secretary shall publish on the internet, in a manner accessible to the public, an affidavit of voter registration in a printable electronic document format. This document shall be a valid affidavit of voter registration under this chapter. The state secretary shall post the electronic document in English, Spanish and Portuguese and in such additional languages as he deems necessary or as required by law.  The electronic affidavit of voter registration shall give registrants the option to enter data directly into the form prior to printing out the affidavit or to print a blank form and manually enter information. The registrant shall personally sign and mail, or deliver personally or by an authorized person the completed affidavit of voter registration form to the appropriate city elections department or town clerk’s office; provided, however, that the registrant may mail, or deliver personally or by an authorized person the form to the state secretary who shall cause it to be delivered to the appropriate city elections department or town clerk’s office.