SENATE, No. 2362

By Mr. Augustus, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2362) of Edward M. Augustus, Jr., Michael V. O'Brien, Konstantina B. Lukes, Harriette L. Chandler and other members of the General Court (with the approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to
bilingual ballots in municipal elections in the city of Worcester. Municipalities and Regional Government. {Local approval received.}

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO BILINGUAL BALLOTS IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF WORCESTER

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 the provisions of any general or special law or the provisions of the City Charter of the City of Worcester , the Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Worcester shall have authority to conduct any preliminary, general or special election involving solely municipal offices or municipal ballot questions in English and Spanish. 

 

Section 2.  In exercising the authority granted by section one hereof, the commission shall: (1) produce clear, complete and accurate Spanish translations of the content of all ballots, sample ballots, petition forms, instructions to voters, voting notices, voting location information and signage and any other material relating to such election; (2) ensure that all election materials translated into Spanish are posted or distributed to the public either on paper or electronically on a parallel basis with all election materials produced and posted or distributed to the public in English; and, (3) provide oral voting assistance in English and Spanish. 

 

Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon passage and shall ratify the results of any election conducted prior to the effective date of this act as if any such election had been conducted under the authority section one of this act.