AN ACT RELATIVE TO SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to ensure forthwith timely special elections, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the state secretary may add or change any dates relating to functions appurtenant to the special primaries or the election for representative in the general court in the second Suffolk district and the sixteenth Suffolk district, precepts having been issued by the speaker of the house of representatives for April 1, 2014, with a primary to be held on March 4, 2014, pursuant to section 141 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as the state secretary considers necessary for the orderly administration of the election by providing notice of the change with the rules and regulations division, by posting on the state secretary’s website and by whatever other means the state secretary considers appropriate. The last day and hour for candidates to submit nomination papers to local registrars of voters or election commissioners for the certification of signatures shall be 5:00 P.M. on January 27, 2014 and the local election officials shall complete certification of nomination papers by 5:00 P.M. on January 28, 2014. The last day and hour for filing nomination papers, including written acceptance, receipt from the state ethics commission and certificate of voter registration or party enrollment with the state secretary, shall be 5:00 P.M. on January 29, 2014.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any city or town within a district having a special state election on April 1, 2014 under section 1, which has an election or town meeting scheduled within 30 days before or after the special state election may, by majority vote of the town council in a town having a town council or the board of selectmen in any other town, after consulting with the town clerk, establish to conduct the preliminary, election or town meeting to coincide with the date of a special state election. Any vote by a town council in a town having a town council or the board of selectmen in any other town to change the date of a local election shall occur at least 35 days prior to the date of the re-scheduled election.
SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. Section 3 of this act shall take effect on April 2, 2014.Approved, January 9, 2014.