Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H834 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 856 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 834
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Carmine Lawrence Gentile
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing same day registration of voters.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/13/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/12/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex3/10/2025Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex2/14/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester1/27/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/8/2025Tara T. Hong18th Middlesex2/27/2025Mary S. Keefe15th Worcester3/4/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/5/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex2/27/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/21/2025Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex1/27/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex1/21/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 856 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 834
18	18	By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 834) of
19	19	Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to same day voter registration. Election Laws.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE HOUSE, NO. 688 OF 2023-2024.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act establishing same day registration of voters.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 Chapter 51 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 34 the
31	31	2following section:-
32	32	3 Section 34A. (a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register as a voter by
33	33	4appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the individual resides, or by
34	34	5appearing in person at an early voting site for the city or town in which the individual resides,
35	35	6during the hours it is open for voting, by presenting proof of residence and by completing and
36	36	7signing an affidavit of registration in the form prescribed by the state secretary, which shall
37	37	8include substantially this oath: I certify that I am a citizen of the United States; am at least 18
38	38	9years old; am not under guardianship that prohibits me from voting; am not temporarily or
39	39	10permanently disqualified by law because of corrupt practices in respect to elections; have not and 2 of 3
40	40	11will not vote in any other location within the commonwealth or elsewhere; and understand that
41	41	12giving false information is punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not
42	42	13more than $5,000, or both. The right to assistance in voting under section 79 of chapter 54 shall
43	43	14apply to individuals registering as voters under this section.
44	44	15 (b) As used in this section, the term “proof of residence” means one of the following, so
45	45	16long as it includes the name of the registrant and the address from which the registrant is
46	46	17registering:
47	47	18 (i) a valid photo identification including, but not limited to, a Massachusetts driver’s
48	48	19license or other state-issued identification card; or
49	49	20 (ii) other documentation demonstrating the name and address where the registrant resides
50	50	21and seeks to register including, but not limited to, a copy of a current utility
51	51	22 bill, bank statement, government check, residential lease agreement, wireless telephone
52	52	23statement, paycheck, other government document or correspondence, a current student fee
53	53	24statement or other document from a post-secondary educational institution that verifies the
54	54	25student’s current address.
55	55	26 (c) Upon compliance with subsection (a), an election officer shall permit the registrant to
56	56	27vote at that primary or election. Any person who registers to vote under this section shall be
57	57	28registered as a voter at all later primaries and elections, subject to this chapter.
58	58	29 (d) A registrant who fails to present proof of residence shall be permitted to deposit a
59	59	30provisional ballot under section 76C of chapter 54, but shall within 2 business days after the
60	60	31primary or within 6 days after the election present proof of residence to the city or town clerk. 3 of 3
61	61	32 (e) The registrars may correct information supplied by the registrant to the extent
62	62	33necessary to maintain the integrity of their records. If an affidavit is incomplete or if it appears
63	63	34from the facts set forth in the affidavit that the registrant is not qualified to register as a voter, the
64	64	35registrars shall proceed in accordance with section 47.
65	65	36 (f) As soon as practicable after the primary or election, the registrars shall add the
66	66	37registrant’s name, address and effective date of registration to the register of voters.
67	67	38 (g) A voter shall not change party enrollment at a primary under this section.
68	68	39 (h) Upon credible information or allegation of illegal voter registration, or credible
69	69	40information or allegation of illegal multiple voting, the registrars shall proceed under section 48,
70	70	41and the attorney general or the appropriate district attorney shall investigate the information or
71	71	42allegation. Nothing in this subsection shall exclude enforcement by any means otherwise
72	72	43provided by law.
73	73	44 (i) Violations of this section shall be punished under sections 8, 26 and 27 of chapter 56.