HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1779        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 359

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Shawn Dooley

_________________

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 decrease waiting times at polling places.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Shawn Dooley

9th Norfolk

1/19/2017

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

 

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

 

Paul K. Frost

7th Worcester

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1779        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 359

By Mr. Dooley of Norfolk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 359) of Shawn Dooley and others that the State Secretary provide for a program to allow cities and towns to implement a voter “speed pass” system.  Election Laws.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act to decrease waiting times at polling places.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 54 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 144. (a) The state secretary shall provide for a program to allow cities and towns to implement a voter “speed pass” system in addition to the manual system currently used by cities and towns. The purpose of the program shall be to reduce wait times for voters at polling places. The program shall allow voter information to be electronically scanned in order to check-in and check-out of the polling location. 

(b) The program shall use software approved by the state secretary. The software shall meet the highest security ratings available. The program shall utilize an electronic poll book, if available to the city or town, to verify voter information.  The verification shall be directly uploaded back into the commonwealth’s voter registration information system, in addition to the manual system that is currently in place.

(c) At no time shall this device be able to be accessed via a wireless device or a remote facility. The only transfer of data that shall be done will be securely done at the City or Town Clerk’s office with a device approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Clerk shall follow all security protocols as set forth by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.