SECTION 1.  The fourth paragraph of section 55A of chapter 452 of the acts of 1948, inserted by section 4 of chapter 342 of the acts of 1983, and as amended by section 6 of chapter 476 of the acts of 2004, is hereby amended by striking out those portions of the form containing the number “19” and inserting in place thereof the number “20.”

SECTION 2.  Section 55A of chapter 452 of the acts of 1948, inserted by section 4 of chapter 342 of the acts of 1983, and as amended by section 6 of chapter 476 of the acts of 2004, is hereby further amended by striking out the second paragraph of the form.

SECTION 3.  Section 56 of chapter 452 of the acts of 1948, inserted by section 4 of chapter 342 of the acts of 1983, and further amended by section 7 of chapter 476 of the acts of 2004, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Every voter signing a nomination petition shall sign in person, with his name as registered, and shall state his residence on January first preceding, or his residence when registered if subsequent thereto, and the place where he is then living, with the street and number, if any; but any voter who is prevented by physical disability from writing may authorize some person to write his name and residence in his presence.  There shall be no limit on the number of nomination petitions for any office that the voter may choose to sign as petitioner.

SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect upon passage if such passage occurs on or before April 19, 2017; otherwise it shall take effect on January 1, 2018.