By Mr. Eldridge of Acton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 639) of James B. Eldridge and others for legislation to regulate the sealing of ballots and voting lists in conducting elections.  Election Laws.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

James B. Eldridge

Viriato Manuel deMacedo

Demetrius J. Atsalis

Thomas J. Calter

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to voting equipment.

    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:  Section 33 of Chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the words “receiving, registering, and canceling” in the second sentence and replacing it with “receiving and registering.” 

SECTION 2:  Section 105A of Chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the eighth paragraph and replacing it with the following:  “The counted ballots, absentee ballots and other, shall be sealed in separate containers and labeled as such.  The unused ballots shall be sealed in separate containers and labeled as such.  They shall be transmitted, in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred and seven, to the office of the city or town clerk forthwith.  The voting lists shall also be sealed in separate envelopes and transmitted to the office of the city or town clerk.” 

SECTION 3:  Section 105A of Chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the words “or container” in the third sentence and replacing it with “,container or containers.”  Section 107 is further amended by inserting the word “separate” in the fourth sentence after the word “or” and before the word “container.”  Section 107 is further amended by striking the sixth sentence and replacing it with the following: “He shall forthwith personally deliver to the city or town clerk or transmit to him, by the police officer or constable in attendance at the election, the separate containers containing the ballots cast and the ballots not cast, the voting lists, the ballot box, the ballot box seals and counting apparatus.” 

SECTION 4:  This act shall take effect upon passage.