Massachusetts HD 4005: An Act reforming the composition of the boards of registrars of voters

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4005 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 853

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kate Lipper-Garabedian
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act reforming the composition of the boards of registrars of voters.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Kate Lipper-Garabedian 32nd Middlesex 1/17/2025
Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex 2/24/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4005 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 853
By Representative Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
853) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Jason M. Lewis relative to the composition of the boards of
registrars of voters. Election Laws.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3918 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act reforming the composition of the boards of registrars of voters.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 Chapter 51, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking
2 section 18 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
3 Section 18. In the original and in each succeeding appointment and in filling vacancies,
4 registrars of voters shall be so appointed as follows: (i) that as nearly as possible the members of
5 the board shall represent the 2 leading political parties and voters with an unenrolled designation,
6 as defined in section 1 of chapter 50 and section 38 of chapter 53; provided, that a city or town
7 clerk need not be enrolled in a political party; and (ii) that in no case shall an appointment to the
8 registrars of voters be made so as to cause the board to have more than 2 members from any
9 established political party or political designation in the Commonwealth, including the city or
10 town clerk.