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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 642 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 504
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Cynthia Stone Creem
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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 enforcing accessibility for voters with disabilities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Cynthia Stone CreemNorfolk and MiddlesexCarmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/22/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester1/28/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/28/2025Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk1/30/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/19/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/26/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester3/6/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 642 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 504
By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 504) of Cynthia Stone Creem,
Carmine Lawrence Gentile, James B. Eldridge, Joanne M. Comerford and other members of the
General Court for legislation to enforce accessibility for voters with disabilities by requiring an
agent of the state secretary to inspect, at least once every four years, each polling place. 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 enforcing accessibility for voters with disabilities.
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 is hereby amended by inserting after section 24 the
2following section:-
3 Section 24A. To ensure compliance with federal and state laws concerning accessibility
4for voters with disabilities including the state secretary’s polling place accessibility regulations,
5an agent of the state secretary shall inspect, at least once every four years, each polling place
6most recently designated under section 24 and each early voting site most recently designated
7under subsection (b) of section 25B. The inspecting agent shall promptly and specifically report
8in writing to the state secretary and the city or town clerk every failure to comply with state and
9federal accessibility laws, and the responsible officials of the city or town shall take immediate
10action to ensure access for voters with disabilities and within 5 days submit to the state secretary
11a written plan to comply. If the city or town fails to take such immediate action or to submit a 2 of 2
12written plan to provide access to voters with disabilities, the state secretary may order the city or
13town to comply with the law. Not later than December 31 each year, the state secretary shall
14report in writing to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives on all activities under
15this section. The attorney general may bring a civil action in the superior court to enforce
16compliance with those accessibility laws, with a written plan, or with the state secretary’s order.
17The actions provided in this section shall not limit the availability of judicial remedies to any
18person, official, commission or board.