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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1145 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 842
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Steven S. Howitt
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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 to increase the safety and security of unattended ballot boxes.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol1/14/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1145 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 842
By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 842) of
Steven S. Howitt for legislation to increase the safety and security of unattended ballot boxes.
Election Laws.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 695 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 to increase the safety and security of unattended ballot boxes.
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 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after Section 71A the following new Section:-
3 Section 71B. Surveillance of Unattended Ballot Drop Boxes
4 (a) Every election officer in a city or town shall provide 24-hour video surveillance of
5each unattended ballot drop box within their jurisdiction, and shall post a sign on or near each
6drop box indicating that it is under constant surveillance.
7 (b) The cameras used for surveillance: (1) may be motion-activated, (2) shall record
8footage, and (3) shall be operational during all types of elections. 2 of 2
9 (c) The footage recorded: (1) may be stored in a cloud storage or physical location, as
10determined by the city or town, and (2) shall be retained for a minimum of 22 months after each
11election it records.