HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1050        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 601

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Angelo M. Scaccia

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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 relative to the date of the biennial state primary.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1050        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 601

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to the date of the biennial state primary.

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 28 of chapter 53 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the first sentence “seventh Tuesday preceding biennial state elections” and replacing it with “second Tuesday in September.” 

SECTION 2.  Section 28 of chapter 53 is hereby further amended by inserting the following sentence after the first sentence: 

“When a religious holiday falls on or immediately before the second Tuesday in September in an even-numbered year, the state primary shall be on a date set by the state secretary within seven days of the second Tuesday in September and the state secretary shall publish such date change no later than the first of February of such year by providing notice of such change to the state parties, by filing notice with the Rules and Regulations Division, by posting on his website and by whatever other means he deems appropriate.”

SECTION 3.  Section 3 of chapter 53 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the first sentence “the thirteenth” and replacing it with seventy-two weekday hours.”

SECTION 4.  Section 5 of chapter 55B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the sixth sentence “six days” and replacing it with “seventy-two weekday hours.”

SECTION 5.  Section 14 of chapter 53 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the seventh sentence “seventy-two” and replacing it with “forty-eight.”

SECTION 6.  Section 52 of chapter 53 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the first sentence “four” and replacing it with “three.”

SECTION 7.  Section 135 of chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the first sentence “on the sixth day” and replacing it with “within forty-eight weekday hours.” 

SECTION 8.  Section 135 of chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking the second sentence of the seventh paragraph and replacing it with the following:

“State-wide and district-wide recounts may be requested for state primaries, and for presidential primaries except for ward and town committees, in the same manner as for state elections, except that the petition shall be submitted to the registrars of voters on or before forty-eight weekday hours following the primary, certification shall be completed on or before noon on the weekday following forty-eight hours after the primary, and the petition shall be filed with the state secretary on or before seventy-two weekday hours following the primary. In the case of such state-wide and district-wide recounts for state primaries, the state secretary shall order the recount conducted as soon after the filing of the petition as it appears to him that the difference in votes is within the margin specified in this paragraph.”

SECTION 9.  Section 135 of chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking in the first sentence of the eighth paragraph “six” and replacing it with “four.”

SECTION 10.  Section 8 of chapter 55B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the first sentence of fourth paragraph “Tuesday and replacing it with “Monday.”

SECTION 11.  Section 10 of chapter 55B of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking in the second sentence “fourteenth” and replacing it with “fifth.”