The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts House Bill 871 moves regular primary elections date to the eleventh Tuesday prior to elections
Last action · April 2, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5311 (under House Rule 27)Sponsor: Ken Sweezey
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What This Bill Would Do
State law is amended to change the timing of regular s from the seventh Tuesday to the eleventh Tuesday prior to the biennial state election.
Alters the calendar window for campaigning, voter registration deadlines, and ballot finalization for all state s.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Voters
Must cast their primary ballots earlier in the election cycle.
Election officials
Must adjust administrative schedules, mail-in ballot timelines, and preparation deadlines to match the new primary date.
Candidates
Must complete campaigning and qualification earlier to align with the revised primary schedule.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many weeks before the election will primary elections be held under this bill?
Which chapter of the General Laws does this bill modify?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Apr 2, 2026HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5311 (under House Rule 27)
- Jun 10, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Election Laws
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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