By Messrs. Finegold of Andover and Lantigua of Lawrence, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4704) of Barry R. Finegold and others (with the approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to require voters in the city of Lawrence to present certain identification at polling places. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

 

Barry R. Finegold

William Lantigua

 

 

David M. Torrisi

Susan C. Tucker

 

 

 

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In the Year Two Thousand and Eight.

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 An Act to require voter identification

 

    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 59 of Chapter 51, sections 35A, 76, 76B, 85, and 85A of Chapter 54 and sections 29, 30 and 31 of Chapter 56 of The General Laws or any other general or special law or rule to the contrary, each voter desiring to vote at a polling place shall give his name and his residence and shall produce a valid photographic identification of the type approved by The Lawrence Board of Registrars.  Proper identification shall be a valid Massachusetts Driver’s License, a valid photographic identification card issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or a valid United States Passport.  If such name is found on the voting list the election officer shall check and repeat the name and shall admit the voter to the space enclosed by the guard rail and, in case official ballots, other than those marked “Challenged Ballots” as provided by said section 35A of Chapter 54 of the General Laws, are used, such voter shall be given one ballot.

 

SECTION 2.         Any person desiring to vote who fails to present suitable photographic identification when so requested by an election officer, shall be permitted to vote, provided, however, that such person’s right to vote may be challenged under section 85 of Chapter 54 of The General Laws.

 

SECTION 3.         Upon passage this act shall become effective as a mandatory requirement for all voters in the year 2008 and thereafter.

 

SECTION 4.         This act shall take effect upon its passage.