HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4484        FILED ON: 7/21/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4023

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Finn and Nicholas A. Boldyga

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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 changing the timing of preliminary elections in the city known as the town of Agawam to eight weeks preceding regular elections.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Michael J. Finn

6th Hampden

7/21/2023

Nicholas A. Boldyga

3rd Hampden

7/24/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4484        FILED ON: 7/21/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4023

By Representatives Finn of West Springfield and Boldyga of Southwick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4023) of Michael J. Finn and Nicholas A. Boldyga (by vote of the town) that the city known as the town of Agawam be authorized to change the timing of preliminary elections in said town to eight weeks preceding regular elections.  Election Laws.  [Local Approval Received.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act changing the timing of preliminary elections in the city known as the town of Agawam to eight weeks preceding regular 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 7-1 of Article 7 of the charter of the city known as the Town of Agawam, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the existing language and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:

Section 7-1 Town Elections: General and Preliminary

The regular town election shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each odd numbered year.

On the eighth Tuesday, preceding every regular town election, there shall be held a preliminary election for the purpose of nominating candidates.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, this act shall be submitted for acceptance to the qualified voters of the city known as the town of Agawam at the 2023 regular election in the form of the following question:

"Shall an Act passed by the General Court in the year 2023 entitled ‘An Act changing the timing of preliminary elections in the city known as the Town of Agawam to eight weeks preceding regular elections' be accepted?"

Below the question shall appear a fair and concise summary of the proposed charter amendment prepared by the city solicitor.

If a majority of the votes cast in answer to this question are in the affirmative, Section 1 shall take effect forthwith for all purposes relating to municipal elections held in the city known as the Town of Agawam in the year 2025.

SECTION 3. The city solicitor shall prepare the summary required under Section 2 not later than 60 days before the election in accordance with section 58A of chapter 54 of the General Laws.