Budget Amendment ID: FY2016-S3-169-R1

Redraft GOV 169

Date Change Religious Holidays

Mr. Kennedy moved that the proposed new text be amended <w:p><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">by inserting after section 31 the following 2 sections: -

“SECTION 31A.  Section 28 of chapter 53 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following sentence:- When a religious holiday falls on or immediately before the second Tuesday in September in an even-numbered year, the state primary shall be held on a date set by the state secretary within 7 days of the second Tuesday in September.  The state secretary shall publish the date change of the state primary not later than February 1 of that year by: providing notice of the change to the state parties; filing notice with the state publications and regulations division; posting the information on the website of the state secretary; and any other means necessary to ensure proper notification.

SECTION 31B.  Section 103P of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, if the day fixed by a city or town for holding a preliminary or primary election falls on a religious holiday and impairs the rights of voters as determined by the state secretary, the city or town shall change the date of the election so as to protect the rights of voters.”.