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HD 1487

An Act requiring photo ID’s to vote

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donnie Berthiaume

Massachusetts HD 1487 would require voters to present a current valid photo ID (driver’s license, government/military/student IDs, etc.) to election officials before voting.

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Bill Summary · HD 1487

Summary of Massachusetts Bill HD 1487: An Act requiring photo ID’s to vote

Overview

  • Bill number: HD 1487 (House Docket No. 1487)
  • Title: An Act requiring photo ID’s to vote
  • Purpose: Require voters to establish their qualifications before voting by presenting a current valid photo ID to election officials.
  • Introduction/GenCourt: Filed January 15, 2025 in the 194th General Court (2025-2026). Similar matter previously filed in 2023-2024 (H. 658).
  • Status: Not specified in the provided excerpt; introduced in the 2025-2026 session.

Key Provisions

  • Legislative action: Adds a new subsection to Section 76B of Chapter 54 of the General Laws.
  • Core requirement: Any person seeking to vote in a public election must provide a current valid photo form of identification to election officials prior to voting.
  • Acceptable IDs (explicitly listed):
    • Current driver’s license
    • Government employee card
    • Pilot’s license
    • Military identification
    • Medicaid or Medicare card
    • For students: university photo ID
  • Scope: Applies to voters in public elections within Massachusetts.

How the bill would work in practice

  • Voter procedure: Before casting a ballot, a voter must present one of the listed forms of photo ID to the election official to establish eligibility.
  • Verification: Election officials would verify the submitted ID as part of the pre-vote process.

Who is Affected

  • Primary: Registered and prospective voters participating in public elections in Massachusetts.
  • Institutional/Issuing Bodies: Agencies and entities that issue the listed IDs (e.g., DMV for driver’s licenses, government agencies for government employee cards, military, Medicare/Medicaid programs, universities issuing student IDs).
  • Election administration: Local and state election offices responsible for ID verification at the polls.

Potential Impacts to Consider

  • Access and Equity: Introducing a photo-ID requirement could affect voters who do not possess any of the listed IDs or who may have difficulty obtaining one. The bill text provided does not specify exemptions, accommodations, or provisions for ID alternatives, affidavits, or temporary waivers.
  • Administrative Requirements: Requires election officials to verify IDs prior to voting, potentially adding time to the in-person voting process.
  • Continuity with Prior Efforts: Mirrors earlier efforts to require photo ID (e.g., H. 658 from the 2023-2024 session), indicating a pattern of interest in tightening voter identification standards.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Legislative path: Filed as House No. 802 by Representative Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. The bill is part of the Massachusetts General Court’s 2025-2026 session.
  • Next steps: Would proceed through the standard committee process (likely Election Laws), with hearings, potential amendments, and votes in both chambers.
  • Effective date: Not stated in the provided text; typical enactments specify an effective date upon passage or provide a delayed effective date.

Bottom Line

HD 1487 proposes a straightforward requirement that voters show a current valid photo ID to election officials before voting, listing specific acceptable ID types. The bill would amend Massachusetts General Laws to tighten identification prerequisites for public elections, with potential implications for voter access and administrative processes. No exemptions or alternative voting provisions are described in the excerpt.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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