SENATE DOCKET, NO. 548        FILED ON: 2/2/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 477

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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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 to expand voter access by making mail-in voting permanent.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 548        FILED ON: 2/2/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 477

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 to expand voter access by making mail-in voting permanent.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 25b of chapter 54 is hereby amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof:-

(b) Any qualified voter may opt to early vote by mail by filing a request electronically or by mail with their local election official in a form prescribed by the state secretary. Any form of written or electronic communication evidencing a desire to have an early voting ballot be sent for use for voting at an election shall be given the same effect as an application made in the form prescribed by the state secretary. No application shall be deemed to be seasonably filed unless it is received in the office of the city or town clerk or registrars of voters before noon on the last day of the early voting period as prescribed in subsection (c).

A voter in receipt of an early voting ballot for any election may complete and return the ballot by: (i) delivering it in person to the office of the appropriate city or town clerk; (ii) dropping it in a secured municipal drop box; or (iii) mailing it to the appropriate city or town clerk.