Amendment #24 to H2017

Punishment for Improper Voting

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough, Gifford of Wareham, Frost of Auburn and Smola of Warren move to amend the order in proposed Rule 52, in lines 1096 to 1101, inclusive, by striking out the words “any member who shall vote or attempt to vote for another member or any person not a member who votes or attempts to vote for a member, or any member or other person who willfully tampers with or attempts to impair or destroy in any manner whatsoever the voting equipment used by the House, or change the records thereon shall be punished in such manner as the House determines; and provided further, that such a violation shall be reported to the Ethics Committee” and inserting in place thereof the following: “no member shall cast a vote for another member. In addition to such penalties as may be prescribed by law, any member who intentionally votes or attempts to vote for another member in violation of this rule shall forfeit all votes on the matter in question and shall be publicly censured. The Clerk shall correct the Journal to reflect the changed votes and include a notation of the violation. Except as heretofore provided, a person not a member shall not cast a vote for a member. If a person not a member votes or attempts to vote for any member in violation of this rule, the person in violation shall be barred from the floor of the House for the remainder of the that day’s session and may be further punished in such manner as the House may deem proper, in addition to such punishment as may be prescribed by law. If a member fails to notify the Clerk of an absence, as required by rule 48, and said failure results in improper votes, the member shall be considered in violation of this rule and punished by public censure. The Clerk shall correct the Journal to reflect the changed votes and include a notation of the violation. Any member or other person who willfully tampers with or attempts to impair or destroy in any manner whatsoever the voting equipment used by the House, or change the records thereon shall be punished in such manner as the House deems appropriate, in addition to such punishment as may be prescribed by law.”.