By Ms. Khan of Newton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3992) of Kay Khan and others (with the approval of the mayor and board of aldermen) that certain resident aliens of the city of Newton be authorized to vote in local electionsof said city. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Kay Khan

Cynthia S. Creem

Ruth B. Balser

Peter J. Koutoujian

David Cohen

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to voting in the city of Newton

    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.  Notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 51 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, residents of the city of Newton who are aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States and who meet all qualifications for registering to vote except United State citizenship, may upon application, have their names entered on a register of qualified permanent resident alien voters and may thereafter vote in any election for local officers and local ballot questions.

SECTION 2.  The election commission of the city of Newton may create a register of qualified permanent resident alien voters and adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this act.  The voter registration forms shall include a declaration to be signed under the pains and penalties of perjury by the permanent resident alien voter that 1) he is residing in the city of Newton 2) he is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent resident in the United State and meets all the qualifications for registering to vote except United States citizenship and 3) he intends in good faith to become a United States citizen and has begun the process, if eligible.

SECTION 3.  Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer on non-citizens the right to vote for state or federal offices or any state or federal ballot questions.