Bill > H585

This bill establishes a special commission to study ways to increase voter participation in primary elections, which are elections held by political parties to select their candidates for the general election. The commission will specifically examine the implementation of a "Top 4 Two Primary system," where the top four vote-getters from each party advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation, and will also look into party convention rules for nominating candidates and the timing of primary elections. The commission will be composed of members from the Senate and House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, representatives from town and city clerks' associations, an executive director from Common Cause Massachusetts, and representatives from each political party eligible to conduct primary elections. This commission is tasked with reporting its findings and legislative recommendations to the state legislature within six months of the bill's enactment.