HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2036        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 607

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Robert M. Koczera

_________________

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 resolve:

Resolve establishing a commission to study the implementation of voting my mail in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Robert M. Koczera

11th Bristol

 

Jay R. Kaufman

15th Middlesex

 

Cory Atkins

14th Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2036        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 607

By Mr. Koczera of New Bedford, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 607) of Robert M. Koczera, Jay R. Kaufman and Cory Atkins for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the implementation of voting by mail.  Election Laws.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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Resolve establishing a commission to study the implementation of voting my mail in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Resolved, That a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of the best process for voting by mail in the Commonwealth. Said investigation shall include the reviewing of the processes for voting by mail now in existence in other states or political subdivisions of the United States. The commission shall consist of the Senate President or her designee, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or his designee, the Senate Minority Leader or his designee, the House Minority Leader or his designee, the Senate and House Chairs of the Joint Committee on Election Laws or their designees, the Secretary of the Commonwealth or his designee;  and four members to be appointed by the Governor two of whom shall be individuals from a public interest group involved in election matters; one of whom shall be an individual with experience administering city elections from a list of three names submitted to him by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; and one of whom shall be an individual with experience administering town elections from a list of three names submitted to him by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. The chairs of the joint committee on election laws, or their designees, shall serve as co-chairs of the commission. Staff from the joint committee on election laws and staff from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Election Division shall provide the necessary assistance.

All appointments to the commission shall be made by the respective appointing authority no later than 60 days after the effective date of this resolve and the co-chairs of the commission shall convene a meeting of the commission within 90 days after the effective date of this resolve.

Members of the commission shall not receive compensation for their services but may receive reimbursement for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the commission.

The commission shall file a report of it’s finding together with legislation, if any, with the Governor, and the clerks of the House and Senate no later than December 31 2014.