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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2322 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 823
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul J. Donato
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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 relative to election emergencies.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Paul J. Donato35th Middlesex1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2322 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 823
By Representative Donato of Medford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 823) of Paul
J. Donato relative to the regulation of elections in certain emergency situations. Election Laws.
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 relative to election emergencies.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is
2amended by inserting after 62 the following section:
3 “62A. Postponement and extension of qualifying periods for elections for public office
4during state of emergency; Procedures for the Orderly Administration of Elections; Limitations.
5 Section 62A. (a) The state secretary shall have the authority to regulate elections in
6emergency situations, including when the governor declares a state of emergency or a federal
7agency declares a state of emergency or disaster exists. Such authorization shall include, but not
8be limited to:
9 (1)Postponing or extending the qualifying periods provided in this chapter for the
10qualification of candidates seeking municipal, county, or state-wide office; and
11 (2)Postponing the date of any primary, special primary, preliminary, election, or
12special election in the affected area; and 2 of 2
13 (3)Providing for procedures for the orderly conduct elections; and
14 (4)In the case of municipal elections, postponing or suspending such local election,
15including a preliminary, after consultation with local election officials.
16 Any such postponement or extension shall not exceed 45 days.
17 (b) The secretary of the commonwealth shall adopt, by rule or regulation, an elections
18emergency contingency plan, which shall contain goals and policies that give specific direction
19to state and local elections officials when an election has been suspended or delayed due to an
20emergency or alternate voting procedures are necessary. The contingency plan shall address, but
21not be limited to, the following concerns:
22 (1)Providing a procedure for state and local elections officials to follow when an
23election has been suspended or delayed to ensure notice of the suspension or delay to the proper
24authorities, the electorate, the communications media, poll workers, and the custodians of polling
25places.
26 Providing a procedure for the release and certification of election returns and documents
27relating to the election to the secretary’s office for elections suspended or delayed and
28subsequently rescheduled under the provisions this section.”