Chap. 0579 An Act to enable women voters to vote at primaries and elections when qualified.

Whereas, Upon the ratification of the proposed amendment to the federal constitution which provides that the rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex, the immediate taking effect of this act would be necessary in order that provision may be made for the registration and listing of female voters in this commonwealth, therefore this act is hereby declared to be an emergency act necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Section 1. Chapter eight hundred and thirty-five of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirteen is hereby amended by
striking out section sixty and substituting the following: - Section 60. Registrars or election commissioners shall, from the names entered in the annual register of voters, prepare voting lists for use at the several elections to be held therein. In such voting lists they shall place the names of all voters entered on the annual register, together with the names of female voters qualified under the provisions of section thirteen, and no others, and opposite to the name of each, his or her residence on the preceding first day of April or at the time of his or her becoming an inhabitant of such place after such day. In cities they shall prepare such voting lists by wards, and if a ward or town is divided into voting precincts, they shall prepare the same by precincts in alphabetical order, or by streets, except that in Boston the voting lists shall be prepared by streets. Names shall be added thereto or taken therefrom as persons are found to be qualified or not qualified to vote.
Section 2. Every female citizen having the qualification -of male voters under the provisions of section twelve of said chapter eight hundred and thirty-five shall have the right to vote in any city, town or state election, or primary or caucus.
Section 3. If the name of a female who is duly registered as a voter is changed by marriage or by decree of court within sixty days prior to any city, town or state election, or primary or caucus, she may vote at such election, primary or caucus in her former name, but at any election, primary or caucus held after the expiration of such period she may not vote without first re-registering in her new name, and on any re-registration on account of change of name the marriage certificate or decree of court, as the case may be, or a certified copy thereof shall be exhibited to the registrar.
Section 4. This act shall take effect upon the adoption of the proposed amendment to the federal constitution which provides that the rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.   Approved June 2, 1920.