Massachusetts Legislation

Home Rule Petition and Enabling Act—Bill Number pending (2005)
State Assembly Bill 4540 (2004)
Senate Bill 2029 (2003)

Home Rule Petition and Enabling Act 2005

Home Rule petition from the City of Cambridge

CHIEF SPONSOR:
Representative Wolf of Cambridge

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts in General Court assembled.

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill or resolve.

PETITIONERS: LEGISLATOR/CITIZEN
DISTRICT/FULL MAILING ADDRESS

Alice K.Wolf
25th Middlesex
Marjorie C. Decker
42 Linnaean St., Apt. 3, 02138
Kenneth R. Reeves
340 Harvard St., 02139
Henrietta Davis
120 Chestnut St., 02139
Brian P. Murphy
22 Mt. Auburn St., 02139
E. Denise Simmons
188 Harvard St. Apt. 4B, 02139

AN ACT TO ENABLE CERTAIN NON-CITIZEN RESIDENTS OF CAMBRIDGE TO VOTE IN SCHOOL
COMMITTEE AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

REFILE OF PREVIOUS MATTER: BILL #: OF YEAR:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND FIVE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section one of chapter fifty-one of the general laws, or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, non-citizens eighteen years or older who reside in the city of Cambridge may, upon application, have their names entered on a list of voters, established by the Elections Commission, for the city of Cambridge and may thereafter vote in any election for school committee members, school committee questions, and City Council. Such non-citizen members shall remain eligible to
vote in school committee and City Council elections for so long as they remain domiciled in Cambridge.

SECTION 2.

The Election Commission is authorized to formulate regulations, guidelines and registration form to implement the purpose of this act. The voter registration forms shall include a declaration to be signed under pains and penalties of perjury by the non-citizen voter that: 1) s/he is residing in Cambridge; 2) s/he intends in good faith to become a U.S. citizen and intends to begin that process, if eligible.

SECTION 3.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer upon non-citizens the right to vote for any, state or federal office or any state or federal ballot questions.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts SENATE
Bill No. 2029 (2003)

By Mr. Rosenberg, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2029) of Stanley C. Rosenberg and Ellen Story (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize local voting rights for permanent resident aliens residing in the town of Amherst. Election Laws.

{Local approval received.}

AN ACT AUTHORIZING LOCAL VOTING RIGHTS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS RESIDING IN THE TOWN OF AMHERST.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section one of chapter fifty-one of the General Laws, or any other general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, resident aliens eighteen years of age or older who reside in the town of Amherst may, upon application, have their names entered on a list of voters established by the town clerk for the town of Amherst and may thereafter vote in any election for local offices and local ballot questions.

SECTION 2. The select board of Amherst is authorized to formulate regulations and guidelines to implement the purpose of this act.

SECTION 3. Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer upon permanent resident aliens the right to vote for any state or federal office or any state or federal ballot question.

H 4540
Bill Pending in the Massachusetts State Assembly Enabling Certain Non-Citizens to Vote in Cambridge School and City Council Elections

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section one of chapter fifty-one of the General Laws, or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, non-citizens eighteen years or older who reside in the city of Cambridge may, upon application, have their names entered on a list of voters, established by the Elections Commission, for the city of Cambridge and may thereafter vote in any election for school committee members, and school committee questions and City Council. Such non-citizen members shall remain eligible to vote in school committee and City Council elections for so long as they remain domiciled in Cambridge.

SECTION 2. The Election Commission of Cambridge is authorized to formulate regulations, guidelines and registration forms to implement the purpose of this act. The voter registration forms shall include a declaration to be signed under pains and penalties of perjury by the non-citizen voter that:

1) s/he is residing in Cambridge;
2) s/he intends in good faith to become a U.S. citizen and intends to begin that process, if eligible.

HOUSE . . . . . . . No. 4540
By Ms. Wolf of Cambridge, petition of Alice K. Wolf, Paul C. Demakis, Anne M. Paulsen, Jarrett T. Barrios, Byron Rushing and others (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of Cambridge be authorized to allow certain non-citizen residents of said city to vote in school committee and city council elections. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]
In the Year Two Thousand and Four.
AN ACT TO ENABLE CERTAIN NON-CITIZEN RESIDENTS OF CAMBRIDGE TO VOTE IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 3. Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer upon non-citizens the right to vote for any state or federal office or any state or federal ballot questions.
2 HOUSE — No. 4540 [February 2004]