An Act relative to early voting cost reimbursements

This bill requires the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse cities and towns for the specific costs associated with operating mandatory early voting locations. The state will cover expenses such as hiring additional staff, paying overtime for municipal employees working outside normal hours, purchasing voting booths, and installing privacy screens. Each year, the state auditor will calculate the estimated costs for the upcoming fiscal year, and the state secretary will distribute the necessary funds to local governments before the expenses are incurred. This measure ensures that local municipalities do not bear the financial burden of providing early voting services mandated by state law.