HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3475        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 860

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Alice Hanlon Peisch

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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 early voting and vote by mail.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3475        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 860

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to early voting and vote by mail.

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 25B of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “election.”, in line 34, the following words:-The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall develop a mechanism for voters to opt out of vote by mail mailers.

SECTION 2. Said section 25B of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “paragraph”, in line 257, the following words:-

If twenty-five percent or more of the votes cast in the prior state election in any municipality were by mail, pursuant to this section the mayor of a city or board of selectmen or select board of a town may opt to reduce or eliminate early voting as authorized by this section . If twenty-five percent or more of the votes cast in the prior state election in a municipality were by mail pursuant to this section , the mayor of a city or board of selectmen or select board of a town may opt to reduce or eliminate early voting pursuant to this section.