HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2030        FILED ON: 2/16/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 793

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Susan Williams Gifford

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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.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2030        FILED ON: 2/16/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 793

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 660 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to early voting.

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, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is amended in lines 53-54 by striking out the words “envelopes of sufficient size to contain the ballots specified in clause (1) bearing on their reverse the voter’s affidavit in compliance with the requirements of subsection (j)” and inserting in place thereof, the following words:- any additional papers deemed necessary by the state secretary for the completion of early voting.

SECTION 2. Section 25B of Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is amended by striking out in line 56 the following:- “along with an envelope”.

SECTION 3. Section 25B of Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is amended by striking out subsection (j) in its entirety

SECTION 4. Section 25B of Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is amended by striking out subsection (n) in its entirety and putting in place thereof, the following subsection:-

(n) The counting of early voting ballots including, but not limited to, informing election officers and any challengers present under section 85A shall be set by regulations promulgated under this chapter. Regulations concerning the counting of early voting ballots shall allow for the registrar or presiding officer at the early voting site to count early ballots as they are completed by qualified early voters. All ballots cast during the early voting period shall be retained with the ballots cast during the election and shall be preserved and destroyed in the manner provided by law for the retention, preservation or destruction of official ballots.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon its passage.