Massachusetts House Bill H830

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/25
• Refer: 2/27/25

Caption

Relative to the preparation of street lists by registrars

Impact

If enacted, H830 will have implications on how personal data of voters is collected and disclosed. By removing sensitive information such as dates of birth and occupations from the street lists, the bill aims to bolster data privacy for individuals. This change could potentially lead to a more secure handling of voter information, addressing public concerns about privacy in an era where personal data is increasingly vulnerable to misuse.

Summary

House Bill H830 proposes changes to the preparation of street lists by registrars in Massachusetts. The bill specifically seeks to amend Section 6 of Chapter 51 of the General Laws by prohibiting the inclusion of dates of birth and occupations in the street lists that registrars prepare annually. Additionally, it revises Section 7 to ensure that street lists will include only names and residences from the previous and current years, along with nationality for non-citizens. The overall aim of the bill is to streamline voter registration practices and enhance privacy for individuals on the registrars' lists.

Contention

Notably, there may be contention surrounding this bill regarding voter identification and access to voter information. Supporters of the bill may argue that limiting the amount of personal information on street lists is a positive step towards protecting individual privacy rights. Conversely, opponents might raise concerns that such restrictions could complicate the verification process for voter registration or hinder efforts to ensure voting integrity. There may be discussions about whether the benefits of enhanced privacy outweigh the potential challenges it could impose on election officials and processes.