SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2138        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rebecca L. Rausch

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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 enhancing jurisdiction of the state ballot law commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2138        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 enhancing jurisdiction of the state ballot law commission.

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 70E of chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 24, the word “No” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Except as provided in sections 4 and 5 of chapter 55B, no.

SECTION 2. Section 4 of chapter 55B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 4, after the word “ballot” the following words:- , placement of names on a presidential primary ballot.

SECTION 3. Said section 4 of chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 8, after the word “any” the following words:- candidate or.

SECTION 4. Said section 4 of chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 11, the word “election,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- election; the placement of names on a presidential primary ballot consistent with the provisions of section 70E of chapter 53;.

SECTION 5. Said chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in section 5 by inserting after the first sentence the following words:- Objections to all other presidential primary candidates whose names are placed on a presidential primary ballot consistent with the provisions of section 70E of chapter 53 shall be filed with the state secretary by five o’clock post meridian on the third business day following the announcement by the secretary of the order of names to be printed on the presidential primary ballot.

SECTION 6. Said section 5 of chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 29, before the word “state” the following words:- presidential or.

SECTION 7. Said section 5 of chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 32, before the word “nomination” the following words:- the placement of names on a presidential primary ballot consistent with the provisions of section 70E of chapter 53 or.