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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 431 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 854
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joan Meschino
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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 youth voter engagement.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Joan Meschino3rd Plymouth1/9/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 431 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 854
By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 854) of Joan
Meschino for legislation to provide for voter pre-registration for persons 17 years of age.
Election Laws.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 705 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 relative to youth voter engagement.
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. Section 1 of chapter 51 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following sentence:-
3Every pre-registrant registered under section 47A, who is 17 years of age, may vote pursuant to
4section 47A.
5 SECTION 2. Section 47A of said chapter 51, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
6striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:– Subsequent
7to such pre-registration, a pre-registrant who is 17 years of age, when pre-registered as provided
8in this section, shall be eligible to vote at any preliminary or primary election to be held if they
9shall be the age of 18 years at the time of the subsequent special or general election and no other 2 of 2
10pre-registrant shall be allowed to vote until the pre-registrant obtains full age unless otherwise
11permitted by law.