MassachusettsNorth Attleborough write-in winners must meet a vote threshold
North Attleborough write-in and sticker candidates with the most votes for town office must also meet a vote threshold to be elected.
What it does
A write-in or sticker candidate who gets the most votes for a town office is elected only if they receive at least as many votes as the signatures needed to get on the ballot.
The act revises several charter references and terms, including changing “Park” to “Parks and Recreation” and updating a statutory reference through section 81GG.
Argument forThe threshold may help ensure a write-in winner has at least as many votes as a candidate needs signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Argument againstA write-in candidate with the most votes might still lose if they fall short of the signature-based vote threshold.
More detail
A write-in or sticker candidate with the most votes for a town office must meet a vote threshold to be elected. This applies to a person receiving the highest number of votes for a North Attleborough town office as a write-in or sticker candidate. The candidate must receive at least as many votes as the number of voter signatures required to place a candidate on the official ballot. The act says it takes effect upon passage.
The act revises several words, numbers, and references in the town charter. These edits apply to specified provisions of North Attleborough’s town charter. The revisions include changing “Park” to “Parks and Recreation,” changing “three” to “5,” updating a statutory reference through section 81GG, inclusive, and replacing “ordinance” with “by-law.” The surrounding charter provisions are not included, so their practical effects are unclear. The act says it takes effect upon passage.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 26Signed by the Governor Maura Healey, Chapter 194 of the Acts of 2026Latest
- Aug 17Enacted and laid before the GovernorMajor
- Aug 17EnactedBecame Law
- Aug 13Read second, ordered to a third reading, read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Aug 13Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- Jul 23Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session
- Jul 20Read third and passed to be engrossedPassed 1st Chamber
- Jul 6Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jul 6Rules suspended
- Jul 6Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- Jul 1Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Jun 11Hearing scheduled for 06/23/2026 from 01:00 PM-03:00 PM in A-1
- May 18Senate concurred
- May 14Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional GovernmentIntroduced
Civil Rights & Voting