Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S505 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 667 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 505
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Cynthia Stone Creem
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 voter registration.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Cynthia Stone CreemNorfolk and MiddlesexRebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex1/17/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/22/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/22/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester1/28/2025Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk1/30/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/19/2025Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester2/19/2025Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
16	16	Hampshire
17	17	2/27/2025William J. Driscoll, Jr.Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol3/5/2025 1 of 3
18	18	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 667 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
19	19	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 505
20	20	By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 505) of Cynthia Stone Creem,
21	21	Rebecca L. Rausch, Joanne M. Comerford, Carmine Lawrence Gentile and other members of the
22	22	General Court for legislation to establish same day voter registration. Election Laws.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act establishing same day voter registration.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 Chapter 51 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 34 the
32	32	2following section:-
33	33	3 Section 34A. (a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register as a voter by
34	34	4appearing in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the individual resides, or by
35	35	5appearing in person at an early voting site for the city or town in which the individual resides,
36	36	6during the hours it is open for voting, by presenting proof of residence and by completing and
37	37	7signing an affidavit of registration in the form prescribed by the state secretary, which shall
38	38	8include substantially this oath: I certify that I am a citizen of the United States; am at least 18
39	39	9years old; am not under guardianship that prohibits me from voting; am not temporarily or
40	40	10permanently disqualified by law because of corrupt practices in respect to elections; have not and
41	41	11will not vote in any other location within the commonwealth or elsewhere; and understand that
42	42	12giving false information is punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not 2 of 3
43	43	13more than $5,000, or both. The right to assistance in voting under section 79 of chapter 54 shall
44	44	14apply to individuals registering as voters under this section.
45	45	15 (b) As used in this section, the term “proof of residence” means one of the following, so
46	46	16long as it includes the name of the registrant and the address from which the registrant is
47	47	17registering:
48	48	18 (i) a valid photo identification including, but not limited to, a Massachusetts driver’s
49	49	19license or other state-issued identification card; or
50	50	20 (ii) other documentation demonstrating the name and address where the registrant resides
51	51	21and seeks to register including, but not limited to, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement,
52	52	22government check, residential lease agreement, wireless telephone statement, paycheck, other
53	53	23government document or correspondence, a current student fee statement or other document
54	54	24from a post-secondary educational institution that verifies the student’s current address.
55	55	25 (c) Upon compliance with subsection (a), an election officer shall permit the registrant to
56	56	26vote at that primary or election. Any person who registers to vote under this section shall be
57	57	27registered as a voter at all later primaries and elections, subject to this chapter.
58	58	28 (d) A registrant who fails to present proof of residence shall be permitted to deposit a
59	59	29provisional ballot under section 76C of chapter 54, but shall within 2 business days after the
60	60	30primary or within 6 days after the election present proof of residence to the city or town clerk.
61	61	31 (e) The registrars may correct information supplied by the registrant to the extent
62	62	32necessary to maintain the integrity of their records. If an affidavit is incomplete or if it appears 3 of 3
63	63	33from the facts set forth in the affidavit that the registrant is not qualified to register as a voter, the
64	64	34registrars shall proceed in accordance with section 47.
65	65	35 (f) As soon as practicable after the primary or election, the registrars shall add the
66	66	36registrant’s name, address and effective date of registration to the register of voters.
67	67	37 (g) A voter shall not change party enrollment at a primary under this section.
68	68	38 (h) Upon credible information or allegation of illegal voter registration, or credible
69	69	39information or allegation of illegal multiple voting, the registrars shall proceed under section 48,
70	70	40and the attorney general or the appropriate district attorney shall investigate the information or
71	71	41allegation. Nothing in this subsection shall exclude enforcement by any means otherwise
72	72	42provided by law.
73	73	43 (i) Violations of this section shall be punished under sections 8, 26 and 27 of chapter 56.