By Ms. Fox of Boston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 647) of Gloria L. Fox and others for legislation to establish a statewide voter registration database, voter education, and to expand the authority of local election district review commissions.  Election Laws.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Gloria L. Fox

Benjamin Swan

William Lantigua

Elizabeth A. Malia

Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.

Barbara A. L'Italien

Patricia D. Jehlen

Ellen Story

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Steven J. D'Amico

Dianne Wilkerson

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to establish a statewide voter registration database, voter education and expand authority of the local election districts review commission.

    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. M.G.L. Chapter 9 is hereby amended by inserting after Section 9A, Section 9B which reads as follows:

“The Secretary of State shall work with the local election districts review commission to develop and maintain an online statewide voter registration database that local election districts

must use. The local election districts review commission will designate procedures for adding, maintaining, and removing names of voters from the database. The local election districts review commission in conjunction with the Secretary of State will adopt procedures that will provide for uniformity and accuracy in the composition and operation of the database. The database must

include, at a minimum, each voter’s name, address, date of birth, gender, party affiliation if applicable, precinct, ward, county, legislative, and congressional district. No privately collected database and no private company may be used to purge voters from the statewide voter registration database. The local election districts review commission will adopt regulations prescribing minimum standards for nonpartisan voter education. Working with community

organizations and leaders, each local election district will implement the minimum voter education standards, and will conduct additional nonpartisan education efforts as necessary to

ensure that voters have a working knowledge of the voting process. The minimum voter education standards will address, but not be limited to: voter registration; balloting procedures, absentee ballots and polling place; voter rights and responsibilities; distribution of sample ballots; and public service announcements. The local election districts review commission will conduct a study of the administration of elections to: determine whether state elections laws and regulation were followed in the prior election cycle, and if not, why they were not followed; determine whether current election procedures are fair and appropriate; determine the number and percentage of over votes and under votes in the prior election, along with the reasons for these over votes and under votes, and other information as may be used in evaluating the performance

of state voting systems, and identifying problems with ballot design and instructions which may have contributed to over votes and under votes; determine whether precincts have adequate

facilities for the number of voters served; examine what election practices or proposals increase or diminish voter participation; and recommend how election procedures can and should be

improved. The commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature on or before February first following each general election.”