HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5442

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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    SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law or by-law or ordinance to the contrary, the order of candidates listed on the town election ballot in the town of Marblehead shall be determined by random drawing of names by the town clerk for each race. Prior to printing of the ballots, the town clerk shall hold a lottery for each race where names of all qualified candidates shall be entered. The order of the names drawn shall be the order in which the names appear on the ballot. Any candidate for re-election shall be designated as such on the ballot. Each candidate, or each candidate’s representative, shall have the opportunity to be present at such drawing.

The drawing shall be conducted by the town clerk or the assistant town clerk, beginning not earlier than 6 o'clock in the afternoon of the day following the last day for candidates to withdraw their nomination papers and continuing until such time as all ballot positions have been determined.

SECTION 2. The act shall take effect upon its passage.”;

And by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title: “An Act relative to the order of candidates’ names on the town of Marblehead town election ballots.