Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Gov. Charlie Baker has signed a law passed by the Legislature yesterday that allows municipalities to postpone their local elections scheduled for this spring.
Elections scheduled to take place before May 30 may be rescheduled to a date prior to June 30. The decision to postpone can be made by the select board, town council, board of registrars or city council.
The law (S. 2608, as enacted) sets the rules for public notice of any postponed election, voter registration, absentee ballots, early voting and other special rules. It also expands access to absentee ballots and allows early voting by mail for elections on or before June 30.
It appears that the rules governing nomination papers were not changed by this law.
The House and Senate also approved orders to delay four special legislative elections. Special elections to fill vacant House seats for the Third Bristol and 37th Middlesex districts are moved to June 2. The Senate postponed special elections for the Plymouth and Barnstable District and the Second Hampden and Hampshire District to May 19.
While the elections law applies to elections held on or before June 30, the Elections Division in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth says it will continue to work with the Legislature on preparations and accommodations for the Sept. 1 state primary and Nov. 3 state election.
For details, visit the Elections Division’s web page for COVID-19 election updates.