SENATE DOCKET, NO. 818        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 478

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST)

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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 for political party endorsement reform.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 818        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 478

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 411 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 for political party endorsement 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. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the

following new chapter:

Chapter 57A. Political Party Endorsement

Section 1. An Act to permit certain political party organizational reforms, by allowing a

cross-endorsement process, by which more than one political party, may endorse the same

candidate, and all votes cast for that candidate, may be totaled for that particular individual.

Section 2. Over many years, significant numbers of individuals have desired a greater

range of choices for electing public officials, during election periods. This legislation seeks to

recognize that an additional choice would be provided, by permitting coalitions of different

political designations, and parties, to support, and/or not support, various candidates.

Section 3. Present Massachusetts law requires independent, individual candidates by each

political party, and/or independent persons. Votes presently, cannot be counted for a single

individual, summed in total. In so doing, political choices are limited to certain definitions, that

limit the ability of coalitions to form, that would improve voter choices.

Section 4. Other states have similar provisions, and have apparently found them to be

useful, and appropriate.

Section 5. The Massachusetts Secretary of State, and its Elections Division, being the

relevant regulator, and supervisor of elections in Massachusetts, is hereby empowered to

establish appropriate regulations, by which all recognized political parties, may cross-endorse

candidates of other parties, by their particular legal political process.