Bill > H861

This bill would allow permanent resident aliens (individuals legally residing in the United States with a green card but who are not U.S. citizens) living in the town of Sharon, Massachusetts, to participate in local elections, including voting for local offices, local ballot questions, and at Town Meeting. Despite being ineligible to vote due to their non-citizen status under current state law, these permanent residents who meet all other voter qualification requirements could have their names added to a special register of qualified permanent resident alien voters. The Sharon Select Board would be responsible for creating regulations to implement this local voting right. The bill explicitly clarifies that this local voting authorization does not extend to state or federal elections, ensuring that permanent resident aliens would only be able to vote in Sharon's local municipal matters. This proposed legislation represents a unique local approach to expanding civic participation for long-term resident non-citizens in a specific community.

Government Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H861