HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2703        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 816

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Lenny Mirra

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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 election law reform.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2703        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 816

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 election law reform.

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 3 of Chapter 51 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "address" the fourth time it appears, the following words:- No new voter registration will be recorded until previous voter registration has been deleted. Upon the completion of said application, city or town clerks shall contact previous domiciles to ensure the validity of said change of address.

SECTION 2. Said section of said chapter, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking the word "may" the last time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following:- shall

SECTION 3. Section 39 of Chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following words:- Two representatives from different political parties shall oversee the counting of absentee and early voting ballots. Both representatives shall verify the final vote count and shall verify voter signatures. Said verification shall occur on election day.

SECTION 4. Section 51 of Chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after the word "counted," the following words:- and no voting results shall be announced.

SECTION 5. Section 51 of Chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, at the end thereof, the following words:- No votes shall be accepted after the polls close on election day. No results shall be posted before all of the ballots have been counted in the city/town. No projections shall be made. The state secretary shall be authorized to develop penalties for municipal violations of this section.

SECTION 6. Section 89 of Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after the word "registrars" the fifth time it appears, the following words:- Upon receipt of an application for absentee voting or an absentee ballot, the city or town clerk shall note the date and time of the receipt. The State Secretary shall provide official documentation for the execution of this notation.