HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1822        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 380

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James M. Murphy

_________________

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 increasing voter participation in primary elections.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

James M. Murphy

4th Norfolk

1/19/2017

James M. Cantwell

4th Plymouth

 

Bruce J. Ayers

1st Norfolk

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1822        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 380

By Mr. Murphy of Weymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 380) of James M. Murphy, James M. Cantwell and Bruce J. Ayers for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to increasing voter participation in primary elections.  Election Laws.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 585 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act increasing voter participation in primary elections.

 

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: A special commission is hereby established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to increasing voter participation in primary elections. Said commission shall specifically investigate the implementation of a “Top Two Primary system” as well as party convention rules relative to party nominations of candidates, and primary election dates. The commission shall consist of 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader, 1 of whom shall act as co-chairperson; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader 1, 1 of whom shall act as co-chairperson; the secretary of the commonwealth or their designee; the president of the Massachusetts Town Clerks’ Association or their designee; the president of the Massachusetts City Clerks’ Association or their designee; the executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts or their designee; and 1 person from each of the political parties as defined in section 1 of chapter 50 of the General Laws eligible to conduct primary elections at the next following biennial state election.

Said commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives six months after the enactment of this legislation.