MA S394

Bill

MA S394

To remove unfair incumbent advantage from the ballot and to change "unenrolled" to "independent"

Introduced
04/15/2015

In Committee
04/15/2015

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
07/31/2016

Introduced Session

189th General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation to remove unfair incumbent advantage from the ballot and to change unenrolled to independent. Election Laws.

AI Summary

This bill proposes to change the term "unenrolled" to "undeclared" throughout election laws, which refers to voters who are not affiliated with any political party. It also aims to remove an "incumbent advantage" from ballots, meaning that the way candidates' names are listed on ballots will be randomized, preventing incumbents, or those currently holding office, from having a preferential placement. Specifically, the bill amends sections of the General Laws concerning absentee ballots, voting lists, and the arrangement of candidate names on ballots for both state and municipal elections, ensuring that all candidates, regardless of whether they are incumbents or affiliated with a party, are listed through random selection.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (3)

Bruce Tarr (R)*, Robert Hedlund (R), Donald Humason (R),

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H4134 (on 03/30/2016)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S394

(14 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S394
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/S394
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/S394.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H242	Relative to telecommunications systems contractors and technicians	Accompanied a study order, see H4578	Similar To
H4134	Election Laws	Reported, in part, by H3359	Replaced by
S1107	Relative to land use regulations	Accompanied a study order, see S2385	Similar To
S1220	To reduce the risks associated with allergic reactions	Accompanied a new draft, see S2468	Similar To
S338	Increasing accountability of DESE contracts	Accompanied a study order, see S2336	Similar To
S339	Ensuring charter school integrity	Accompanied a study order, see S2315	Similar To
S437	Relative to sustainable water conservation practices	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S439	To ensure continued humane animal care and protect family farms in Massachusetts	Accompanied a study order, see S2380	Similar To
S457	Relative to a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing	New draft substituted, see S2309	Similar To
S616	To benefit the Health Safety Net Trust Fund	Accompanied a study order, see S2356	Similar To
S743	Relative to equitable divorce proceedings	Accompanied a study order, see S2204	Similar To
S918	An act enhancing assessment information of the sexual offender registration board	Accompanied a study order, see S2204	Similar To
S927	Relative to out of state sex offenders	Accompanied a study order, see S2204	Similar To
S972	Relative to permissible topics of collective bargaining	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To

Bill > S394

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Official Document

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