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By Ms. Fox of Boston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 646) of Gloria L. Fox and others relative to election day registration. Election Laws. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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By Ms. Fox of Boston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 646) of Gloria L. Fox and others relative to election day registration. Election Laws. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Cynthia S. Creem
James B. Eldridge
Benjamin Swan
Jay R. Kaufman
Louis L. Kafka
Frank I. Smizik
Ellen Story
Ruth B. Balser
Elizabeth A. Malia
Denise Provost
J. James Marzilli, Jr.
Kay Khan
Michael E. Festa
Barbara A. L'Italien
Douglas W. Petersen
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
Jarrett T. Barrios
Brian A. Joyce
Willie Mae Allen
William N. Brownsberger
William Lantigua
Susan C. Fargo
Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.
Anthony J. Verga
Robert K. Coughlin
Dianne Wilkerson
Cory Atkins
Patricia D. Jehlen
Martin J. Walsh
Geoffrey D. Hall
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.
Marie P. St. Fleur
Steven J. D'Amico
Jennifer M. Callahan
Charles A. Murphy
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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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 34 of Chapter 51 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking in line 1 the words “After eight o’clock” and inserting in place thereof the following:-
“Except as provided in section 34A of this chapter, after eight o’clock”
SECTION 2. Said section 51 of the general laws is hereby further amended by adding after section 34 the following new section:-
34A. (a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register on the day of an election or primary by appearing in person, at the office of the registrar or at the polling place for the precinct in which the individual resides, providing proof of residence, proof of identity, and making an oath in a form prescribed by the secretary of the commonwealth.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term “proof of residence” shall mean any one of the following so long as it includes the applicant’s address:
(i) a current and valid government-issued photo identification, such as a valid Massachusetts drivers license, a state-issued identification card, official student identification card, or;
(ii) other documentation demonstrating the name and address of the voter, such as a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term “proof of identity” shall mean: a current and valid photo identification issued by a government agency or an educational institution, such as a US passport, a valid Massachusetts drivers license, a state-issued identification card, or official student identification card.
(d) Upon the production of proof of residence, proof of identity, and making an oath as prescribed by the secretary of the commonwealth sufficient to support registration, the registrar or his or her designee shall permit the applicant to vote on the day of an election or primary and shall place the applicant’s name and address on the annual register of voters as soon as reasonably possible, but not later than 5 days after the election. Any person who registers to vote on the day of an election or primary in accordance with this section shall, absent disqualification, be registered to vote at all subsequent elections.
(e) In order to facilitate such election day voter registration, the state secretary shall make available, to the election officers at each polling place, access to the central registry of voters set forth in section 47C of this chapter.
(f) Violations of this section shall be punishable pursuant to section 8 of chapter 56.