SENATE DOCKET, NO. 646        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 382

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Barrett

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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 early voting in municipal elections.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 646        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 382

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 366 OF 2017-2018.]

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 relative to early voting in municipal 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. Section 25B of chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (a), as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, the following subsection:-

(a½) The election officers and registrars of a city or town that accepts this subsection shall allow a qualified voter, as defined in section 1 of chapter 51, to cast a ballot for a municipal election that is not held at the same time as a biennial state election during the early voting period as set forth in this section.  This subsection shall only take effect in a city or town upon the approval of the legislative body and the acceptance by the voters of the city or town on a ballot question at the next regular municipal or state election.