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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 568 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 808
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Tackey Chan
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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 requiring a residency affidavit by a candidate.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Tackey Chan2nd Norfolk1/10/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 568 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 808
By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 808) of Tackey
Chan relative to requiring residency affidavits for candidates for public office. Election Laws.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 666 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act requiring a residency affidavit by a candidate.
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 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 11 the following new section:-
3 Section 11A. A person seeking to be a candidate to hold a state, county or municipal
4office shall be required, by the deadline for filing nomination papers, to submit an affidavit
5affirming that they satisfy the residency requirement pursuant to the State Constitution, general
6laws, special laws, city charter, town charter and municipal laws. Any person seeking to
7challenge a candidate’s residency shall do so in writing with the city or town clerk for municipal
8elections or the Secretary of State for state and county elections; provided that said challenge
9must take place no less than 10 days prior to the date when a candidate can withdraw their
10candidacy. The person seeking to challenge may include documentation to support the lack of 2 of 2
11residency claim. Upon receipt of the challenge, the city clerk, town clerk or the Secretary of
12State shall require the candidate provide proof of residency and issue a written decision within 5
13days after the initial challenge; and if the challenge is upheld, the candidate’s nomination shall be
14withdrawn. The Secretary of State shall establish rules and regulations on what is required for
15proof of residency, the form of the affidavit, process of initiating challenges and process of
16review and implementation of this section.