Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H673

Introduced

2/16/23

Refer

2/16/23

Caption

Relative to town committee elections and membership

Impact

The changes proposed in H673 would significantly streamline the process by which town committee members are elected, removing potential ambiguities in the law. The bill ensures that each political party maintains a minimum of three committee members, while allowing for increased flexibility in the number to be elected. This could result in a more organized and representative election process at the local party level, promoting greater engagement and participation from citizens in the electoral process.

Summary

House Bill 673 seeks to amend the current election laws to outline clearer regulations regarding the election and membership of town committees within political parties in Massachusetts. Specifically, the bill alters the existing statutes to ensure that committee members are elected during biennial state elections and presidential primaries. Under the proposed amendments, members must either be enrolled in their party well in advance or be newly registered voters who have not engaged with another party in the preceding year.

Contention

While the bill's intent is to foster clearer and more straightforward electoral procedures for town committees, it may also face scrutiny regarding its implications for local party governance. Some participants in the electoral process may express concerns about the balance of power within local political factions, especially regarding how membership is structured and altered as a result of these changes. If enacted, it will be important to monitor how these amendments affect the dynamic within local committees and their alignment with broader party strategies.

Latest MA H673 Activity

View All Events: MA 2023-2024 Regular Session H673

Companion Bills

MA H4818

Similar To Increasing the membership of the Select Board for the Town of Lancaster

MA S2948

Similar To Making the charter of the county on Nantucket gender neutral

MA H4733

Replaced by Study Order

Previously Filed As

MA H815

Relative to town committee elections and membership

MA H7585

Party Committees And Conventions

MA S534

Upgrading elections infrastructure, improving voting access, and reducing municipal burden

MA HB243

Partisan primary elections; abolish and establish open primary elections.

MA S439

Improving voting access and elections infrastructure

MA HB06650

An Act Concerning Elections Of Town Committee Members.

MA HB1324

Elections in small cities and towns.

MA H5134

Increasing membership on the town of Paxton select board

MA HB1250

Elections in small cities and towns.

MA HB1831

In dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for special elections for Senator and Representative in the General Assembly, for special elections for members of councils or legislative bodies of cities, boroughs, towns and townships and for nominations for special election for Representative in Congress, Senator and Representative in the General Assembly and member of council or legislative body of cities, boroughs, towns and townships and providing for special election for Senator or Representative in General Assembly or member of council or legislative body of cities, boroughs, towns and townships and for fines imposed for certain resignations and establishing the Special Election Fund; in nomination of candidates, further providing for number of signers required for nomination petitions of candidates at primaries, providing for secure online signature collection for Federal, State and municipal political offices and further providing for nominations by political bodies, for limitations on eligibility of candidates, for contents of nomination papers, restriction on names and campaign finances and for filing fee; in voting machines, further providing for requirements of voting machines; in electronic voting systems, further providing for requirements of electronic voting systems and for forms; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, repealing provisions relating to qualified mail-in electors, providing for automatic issuance of mail-in ballots, repealing provisions relating to applications for official mail-in ballots, to date of application for mail-in ballot and to approval of application for mail-in ballot and further providing for delivering or mailing ballots, for voting by mail-in electors and for public records; in primary and election expenses, further providing for authorization of political committee and for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons; and imposing penalties.

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