Bill
H 4498
Conway shifts town officer nominations from caucuses to petition-based filings under general laws, and ballots become nonpartisan with no party marks.
Overview
- This is a local-option bill in the Massachusetts General Court that would reform how elections are conducted in the town of Conway, eliminating caucuses for nominating town officers and requiring nomination through filing of nomination papers under general laws.
- Local approval is indicated; the bill is filed as House Docket No. 5091 (House No. 4498).
Purpose and intent
- The bill aims to replace caucus-based nominations with a petition/nomination-paper process for Conway town officer candidates.
- It requires nonpartisan ballots for town elections, removing party designations from ballots and from candidate names.
Key provisions
- Section 1 (Election Nomination and Ballots)
- Caucuses for nominating town officers in Conway would be eliminated.
- Nominations would be made by filing nomination papers in accordance with sections 7 and 10 of Chapter 35 of the General Laws (i.e., the standard petition-based nomination process).
- Ballots used for regular or special town elections would not display any party or political designation, and candidate names for town office would be printed without party marks.
- Section 2 (Effective Date)
- The act takes effect upon passage.
Effect and impact
- Nomination process: Moves Conway from caucuses to a petition-based nomination system, aligning with general laws for candidate filings.
- Ballot design: Ensures nonpartisan ballots and nonpartisan presentation of candidate names for town offices.
- Local scope: Applies only to the town of Conway; does not alter statewide election procedures.
- Supersession language: States that the provisions override any contrary provisions in Chapter 53 or other general/special laws or by-laws to the extent of the inconsistency, for Conway.
Who is affected
- Town officers and candidates in Conway seeking municipal office.
- Conway voters who participate in town elections (as ballots will be nonpartisan).
- Town election officials responsible for administering nominations and ballots in Conway.
Procedural and timeline details
- Hearing: Scheduled for November 13, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in hearing room A-2.
- Legislative actions:
- Referred to the Senate in early September 2025.
- Senate concurred on September 15, 2025.
- Related bills: House Bill 5091 (HD 5091) is noted as replacing the prior form; the current bill is House No. 4498.
- Status: Local approval required; presented as a joint petition by Rep. Natalie M. Blais and Sen. Paul W. Mark.
Notes for readers
- This bill affects Conway only and would not automatically apply to other towns without similar local action.
- The shift to nonpartisan ballots and nomination papers could influence candidate recruitment and campaigning dynamics in Conway.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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