HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2477        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 697

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James M. Murphy

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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 increasing voter participation in primary elections.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2477        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 697

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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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, primary election dates, and the elimination of the current party primary election system. 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.