HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 78        FILED ON: 1/3/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Marcus S. Vaughn

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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 public information requests.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 78        FILED ON: 1/3/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 728 OF 2023-2024.]

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 public information requests.

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 55 of chapter 51 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Registrars shall provide to the state secretary a copy of each such voting list required by this section; provided, however that the registration of a voter in the commonwealth’s electronic registration system shall be sufficient to provide the state secretary with the voting list.  Any such list shall be a public record in the custody of the state secretary and the state secretary shall respond to any request for regional or statewide voting lists. The request for inspection or copy of such public record shall be governed by chapter 66. 

SECTION 2. Section 91 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Registrars shall provide to the state secretary a copy of each absentee voting list required by this section.  Any such list shall be a public record in the custody of the state secretary and the state secretary shall respond to any request for regional or statewide absentee voting lists. The request for inspection or copy of such public record shall be governed by chapter 66. 

SECTION 3. Section 91A of said chapter 54, as so appearing is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Registrars shall provide to the state secretary a copy of each specially qualified voter list required by this section.  Any such list shall be a public record in the custody of the state secretary and the state secretary shall respond to any request for regional or statewide specially qualified voter lists. The request for inspection or copy of such public record shall be governed by chapter 66.