AN ACT FURTHER PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING BY MAIL
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide forthwith for continued early voting by mail, 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. Subsection (a) of section 1 of chapter 45 of the acts of 2020 is hereby amended by striking out the words “June 30, 2020”, as inserted by section 1 of chapter 92 of the acts of 2020, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 30, 2021.
SECTION 2. Said subsection (a) of said section 1 of said chapter 45 is hereby further amended by striking out the words “August 1, 2020”, as inserted by section 2 of said chapter 92, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- August 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. Section 1A of said chapter 45, as appearing in section 3 of said chapter 92, is hereby amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2020” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- July 31, 2021.
SECTION 4. Subsection (a) of chapter 255 of the acts of 2020 is hereby amended by striking out the words “March 31, 2021” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 30, 2021.
SECTION 5. Subsection (b) of said chapter 255 is hereby amended by striking out the words “March 31, 2021” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 30, 2021.
SECTION 6. Subsection (c) of said chapter 255 is hereby amended by striking out the words “March 31, 2021” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 30, 2021.
SECTION 7. Subsection (l) of said chapter 255 is hereby amended by striking out the words “March 31, 2021” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 30, 2021.
SECTION 8. Said chapter 255 is hereby further amended by adding the following subsection:-
(m) A voter who is blind or has a vision impairment, a mobility or dexterity disability or other disability that makes it difficult or impossible for the voter to effectively access a paper vote by mail ballot because the voter cannot independently read, write, hold or physically manipulate standard print materials may request an accommodation from their local election official by phone or electronically. The request shall be received by the local election official not later than the fourth business day before the election. Upon receiving such a request from a voter, the local election official shall make reasonable efforts to grant accommodations to the voter.
Approved, March 16, 2021.