Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S509 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. 2491 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 509
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	William J. Driscoll, Jr.
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 relative to the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole in the city
13	13	known as the town of Randolph.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :William J. Driscoll, Jr.Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol 1 of 2
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2491 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 509
19	19	By Mr. Driscoll, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 509) of William J. Driscoll, Jr.
20	20	(with the vote of the town) for legislation relative to the preparation of bilingual ballots in
21	21	English and Haitian Creole for state elections in the city known as the town of Randolph.
22	22	Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]
23	23	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
24	24	SEE HOUSE, NO. 4049 OF 2023-2024.]
25	25	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
26	26	_______________
27	27	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
28	28	(2025-2026)
29	29	_______________
30	30	An Act relative to the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole in the city
31	31	known as the town of Randolph.
32	32	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
33	33	of the same, as follows:
34	34	1 SECTION 1. As used in this act, the following words shall have the following meanings
35	35	2unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-
36	36	3 "Board", the board of registrars of the town.
37	37	4 "Town", the city known as the town of Randolph.
38	38	5 "Election", the choice by the voters of any public officer and the taking of a vote upon
39	39	6any question by law submitted to the voters. 2 of 2
40	40	7 "State election", an election at which a national, state or county officer or a regional
41	41	8district school committee member elected districtwide is to be chosen by the voters, whether for
42	42	9a full term or for the filling of a vacancy.
43	43	10 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 40 of chapter 54 of the General Laws or any other
44	44	11general or special law to the contrary, in state elections ballots shall be provided to voters in the
45	45	12town in English and Haitian Creole, in addition to being provided in any other languages
46	46	13required by law. The state secretary shall prepare such ballots in English and Haitian Creole and
47	47	14in any other languages required by law.
48	48	15 SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law or the charter of the town to the
49	49	16contrary, in all town preliminary and final elections ballots shall be provided to voters in the
50	50	17town in English and Haitian Creole, in addition to being provided in any other languages
51	51	18required by law. The board shall prepare such ballots in English and Haitian Creole and in any
52	52	19other languages required by law.
53	53	20 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the state
54	54	21secretary shall be responsible for all costs resulting from the implementation of this act in state
55	55	22elections held in the town, including, without limitation, the production of ballots.
56	56	23 SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.