Amendment #249 to H4000

Local Elections Review (LEDRC) Timelines

Mr. Donato of Medford moves to amend the bill by adding the following sections:-

“SECTION X. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of chapter 54 of the general laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, in the year 2021, the time by which the division of a city into convenient voting precincts as required by section 2 of chapter 54 must be completed, approved locally, and submitted through the state secretary to the local election districts review commission, shall be within thirty days of the release of the 2020 decennial federal census.

SECTION X. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6 of chapter 54 of the general laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, in the year 2021, the time by which the division of a town into convenient voting precincts as required by section 6 of chapter 54 must be completed, approved locally, and submitted through the state secretary to the local election districts review commission, shall be within thirty days of the release of the 2020 decennial federal census.

SECTION X. A city or town may request an extension of the thirty day submission deadline upon a showing of good cause. Such request shall be submitted to the state secretary citing specific reasons why the extension is needed and the additional time requested.  The state secretary, in his sole discretion, shall approve or deny the requested extension or modify the requested extension date.

SECTION X. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1 and 6 of chapter 54 of the general laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, if the local election districts review commission shall find that any such plan of new or unrevised wards or precincts of any city conflicts with the applicable requirements of chapter 54, or is of questionable constitutionality, it shall transmit a written notice of such findings, with a clear indication of the deficiencies of such plan to the city council of such city or to the board of selectmen or town council of such town not later than 7 days following the date the plan is reviewed by the commission.

Within the time prescribed by the commission, but no later than 7 days following his receipt of such notice, the city council or board of selectmen or town council must vote on a new division into precincts free of the defects cited by the commission. If the city council, board of selectmen or town council shall fail to approve a new division, or a substitute division, conformable to the provisions of chapter 54 within 7 days of receipt of notice, the local election districts review commission shall, within 7 days, make such division of the city into wards and precincts or town into precincts or appoint a master who shall make such division which shall be subject to approval and amendment by the commission. The cost of redistricting by a master shall be paid by the city or town.

SECTION X. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and due to delays caused by the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, the local election districts review commission in consultation with the state secretary may add or change any dates relating to the reprecincting process as contained in chapter 54 that are considered necessary for the orderly administration of the reprecincting process and subsequent elections by providing notice of the change by filing with the rules and regulations division, by posting on the state secretary’s website and by whatever other means the state secretary considers appropriate.

SECTION X. This act shall take effect upon passage.”