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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2537 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 688
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing same day registration of voters.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/19/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol1/30/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/30/2023James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/8/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/9/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/14/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/17/2023Steven Owens29th Middlesex2/18/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/19/2023Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/22/2023Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/22/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/2/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2537 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 688
By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 688) of
Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to same day voter registration. Election Laws.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act establishing same day registration of voters.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 51 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 34 the
2following section:-
3 Section 34A. (a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register as a voter by
4appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the individual resides, or by
5appearing in person at an early voting site for the city or town in which the individual resides,
6during the hours it is open for voting, by presenting proof of residence and by completing and
7signing an affidavit of registration in the form prescribed by the state secretary, which shall
8include substantially this oath: I certify that I am a citizen of the United States; am at least 18
9years old; am not under guardianship that prohibits me from voting; am not temporarily or
10permanently disqualified by law because of corrupt practices in respect to elections; have not and
11will not vote in any other location within the commonwealth or elsewhere; and understand that
12giving false information is punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not 2 of 3
13more than $5,000, or both. The right to assistance in voting under section 79 of chapter 54 shall
14apply to individuals registering as voters under this section.
15 (b) As used in this section, the term “proof of residence” means one of the following, so
16long as it includes the name of the registrant and the address from which the registrant is
17registering:
18 (i) a valid photo identification including, but not limited to, a Massachusetts driver’s
19license or other state-issued identification card; or
20 (ii) other documentation demonstrating the name and address where the registrant resides
21and seeks to register including, but not limited to, a copy of a current utility
22 bill, bank statement, government check, residential lease agreement, wireless telephone
23statement, paycheck, other government document or correspondence, a current student fee
24statement or other document from a post-secondary educational institution that verifies the
25student’s current address.
26 (c) Upon compliance with subsection (a), an election officer shall permit the registrant to
27vote at that primary or election. Any person who registers to vote under this section shall be
28registered as a voter at all later primaries and elections, subject to this chapter.
29 (d) A registrant who fails to present proof of residence shall be permitted to deposit a
30provisional ballot under section 76C of chapter 54, but shall within 2 business days after the
31primary or within 6 days after the election present proof of residence to the city or town clerk.
32 (e) The registrars may correct information supplied by the registrant to the extent
33necessary to maintain the integrity of their records. If an affidavit is incomplete or if it appears 3 of 3
34from the facts set forth in the affidavit that the registrant is not qualified to register as a voter, the
35registrars shall proceed in accordance with section 47.
36 (f) As soon as practicable after the primary or election, the registrars shall add the
37registrant’s name, address and effective date of registration to the register of voters.
38 (g) A voter shall not change party enrollment at a primary under this section.
39 (h) Upon credible information or allegation of illegal voter registration, or credible
40information or allegation of illegal multiple voting, the registrars shall proceed under section 48,
41and the attorney general or the appropriate district attorney shall investigate the information or
42allegation. Nothing in this subsection shall exclude enforcement by any means otherwise
43provided by law.
44 (i) Violations of this section shall be punished under sections 8, 26 and 27 of chapter 56.