HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3048        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 695

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Steven S. Howitt

_________________

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 increase the safety and security of unattended ballot boxes.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

1/19/2023

Joseph D. McKenna

18th Worcester

1/31/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3048        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 695

By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 695) of Steven S. Howitt and Joseph D. McKenna for legislation to increase the safety and security of unattended ballot boxes.  Election Laws.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act to increase the safety and security of unattended ballot boxes.

 

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

Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 71A the following new Section:-

Section 71B. Surveillance of Unattended Ballot Drop Boxes

(a) Every election officer in a city or town shall provide 24-hour video surveillance of each unattended ballot drop box within their jurisdiction, and shall post a sign on or near each drop box indicating that it is under constant surveillance.

(b) The cameras used for surveillance: (1) may be motion-activated, (2) shall record footage, and (3) shall be operational during all types of elections.

(c) The footage recorded: (1) may be stored in a cloud storage or physical location, as determined by the city or town, and (2) shall be retained for a minimum of 22 months after each election it records.