1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 56 FILED ON: 1/5/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 716
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Joanne M. Comerford
_________________
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 amending the special act charter of the city of Northampton to allow residents sixteen
years of age or older to vote in preliminary and city elections.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/4/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/5/2023 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 56 FILED ON: 1/5/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 716
By Representative Sabadosa of Northampton and Senator Comerford, a joint petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 716) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Joanne M. Comerford (with
the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to amending the charter of the city of
Northampton to allow residents sixteen years or age or older to vote in preliminary and city
elections. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act amending the special act charter of the city of Northampton to allow residents sixteen
years of age or older to vote in preliminary and city elections.
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 277 of the Acts of 2012, shall be amended as follows:
2 SECTION 1. Amend article 8 by inserting as article 8-6 the following:
3“QUALIFICATION FOR VOTING. Every resident of the city or, in the case of an election for
4ward councilor or ward school committee member, every resident of the ward, sixteen years of
5age or older, who is not otherwise disqualified from voting under state law, shall be qualified to
6vote in all preliminary elections, special elections and regular city elections" and by renumbering
7article 8-6 to 8-7 and article 8-7 to 8-8.
8 This act shall take effect upon its passage.