麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）昨（廿二）日大筆一揮，麻州選民將可提早投票，網上辦理選民登記，提前至十六歲辦理選民登記。
麻州選民從2016年起，將可提前十一天，在指定地點投票，或以郵寄方式投票，期以鼓勵更多人參與投票這公民事務。
除了2016年的初選之外，新的提前投票法適用所有州級選舉。
該一新法案也允許人民在完成數位的登記宣誓後，可在網上登記成為選民。州政府也將設立網站，更新民眾的選民登記狀態。
新法令也准許除了年齡之外，符合所有資格要求者，在十六歲時就提前登記成為選民。
這些人將在年度選民登記表上被列為提前登記者，直至他們達到投票年齡止。
在總統大選年，需作自動稽查的條文，也包括在新法案中，以確保投票機制的正確性。
麻州投票（MassVote）行政主任Cheryl Clyburn Crawford表示，麻州此舉是加入其他23州行列，通過了網上登記成為選民法。她指該做法已經顯示出，不僅提高了選民投票率，也促成很大幅度的費用節省。在亞利桑納州（AZ）處理紙板登記表的費用是83分錢，但辦理網上選民登記的費用為3分錢。網上選民登記是用汽車監理處的資料庫來做確認的。
圖片說明：
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麻州州長派區克（前中）在麻州州務卿威廉蓋文（左一）等人見證中，簽署新選舉法。（圖由麻州州長辦公室提供）
Governor Signs Senator Finegold’s Groundbreaking Election Laws Reform Bill into Law
Bill allows for early voting, online voter registration and pre-registration of 16 and 17-year-olds
BOSTON – Senator Barry R. Finegold (D—Andover) announced today that the Governor signed his comprehensive Elections Laws Reform bill into law, modernizing our state’s election laws and preserving our fundamental voting rights. The new law authorizes early voting for biennial state general elections, online voter registration and pre-registration of 16 and 17-year-olds. Finegold advocated for passage of the bill for years and served as the Senate’s lead negotiator on the conference committee.
“Anytime we can increase access and voter participation it is a positive step towards greater electoral engagement.” Senator Barry Finegold (D-Andover) said. “I am proud of the bill the Legislature passed and the Governor signed to update our antiquated election laws and make voting more accessible to the modern Massachusetts family. Early voting, pre-registration of 16 and 17-year-olds and online voter registration are a few of the significant reforms passed today that will enhance voter access and increase participation in the electoral process.”
Under this bill, Massachusetts will become the 33rd state to allow early voting. The period for early voting will begin 11 business days before an election and end at the close of polls two business days before the election. Furthermore, the bill requires the Secretary of State to create an online voter registration system as well as a secure online portal to allow voters to easily check their voter registration status and polling location.
The bill also requires audits of voting machines every four years after Presidential general elections. This stands as another significant reform in the bill and a key step in ensuring that we maintain the integrity of our voting system. Specifically, the bill necessitates that the state conduct election audits during presidential general election years in races that have more than one candidate on the ballot for President and Vice President, Representative in Congress, Senator in Congress, State Representative and State Senator, as well as one statewide ballot question. Precincts to be audited must be chosen in a random drawing and the number selected must be equal to 3% of all precincts in the Commonwealth. The Secretary of State will oversee the audits, and if a discrepancy arises, subsequent audits may be performed.
This piece of legislation also places voters on the inactive list only after failing to respond to two consecutive annual town censuses and not voting in an election during that time. Under current law, a voter can be placed on the inactive list for not filling out an annual census. In addition, the bill allows a voter whose political designation does not list a candidate in a primary election to be considered unenrolled and receive a ballot for the political party of the voter’s choosing. The legal definition of “political designation” does not include the republican and democrat political parties.
The bill also includes provisions that:
Require municipal election officials to attend annual training given by the Secretary of State regarding applicable state and federal election laws;
Permit municipalities to apply for a waiver from the Secretary of State in order to hire fewer election officers than required by statute;
Eliminate the requirement for a cancellation device on voting machines;
Require the Secretary of State to study existing laws with regard to residency requirements for purposes of voting; and
Establish an elections task force to review early voting and expanding technology, including costs, administrative requirements, reductions in wait times on Election Day, the feasibility of additional early voting sites and hours, voter turnout, Election Day mobile alerts and online voting.
中華耆英會廿一日晚在波士頓龍鳳酒樓舉辦四十二週年聯歡春宴，報告康樂樓擴建訂十月竣工，請11名董事和社區見面，表揚余陳佩珍和波士頓安良工商會，與紐英崙藝術學會合作辦拍賣，展現華埠社區藝術才能。
中華耆英會行政主任梅伍銀寬在會上向大約360名出席支持者報告，該會創辦42年以來，辦理的各項服務及品質，不斷增加，提升，成績令人印象深刻。如今該會聘有全職，半職人員不下五十人，在十三個不同地點為耆英服務，其中包括三個成人日間健康服務，還每日做二千份營養餐，一年前在尚莫維爾市設立了新廚房。
會中，中華耆英會送出一幅巨大攝影傑作給塔芙茨醫療中心最近真除為執行長的魏格納（Michael
Wagner），頒發獎牌給退休董事余陳佩珍，波士頓安良工商會，感謝他們對該會的支持與服務。
現年七十歲的余陳佩珍，1950年代就從香港移民來美，當年是在車衣工會任職的唯一華人。那時波士頓華埠人不多，她和梅伍銀寬，梅炳鈿，以及當年的中華耆英會董事長朱曉東等人熟稔，應邀做中華耆英會財政，十幾年後才加入耆英會董事會。余陳佩珍表示，前後加起來，她在耆英會服務已超過35個年頭。
中華耆英會當晚的聯歡春宴，由梅麗梨，梅子聰擔任司儀，陳建立和紐英崙至孝篤親公所主席陳滋源，陳禮分別朗讀他們送上的賀詩，楊書旺表演四川變臉，陳彤吹奏牛皮。當晚的拍賣品有梅國治，梅宇國，林卓培的攝影，繪畫，書法作品，W酒店的一晚酒店，波士頓紅襪隊捐出的該隊總經理John Farrell簽名棒球。
甄雲龍（後排右一起），朱自律，黃貝芝，李壽泮，經文處長洪慧珠，司徒沃生，譚達明，余國鋒，梅麗梨，中間第二排右起，陳建立，梅炳鈿，余陳佩珍，梅伍銀寬等中華耆英會董事合影。（菊子攝）
