H 857 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act increasing voter participation in primary elections

HD 1977 establishes a 10-member commission to study ways to increase voter participation in Massachusetts primary elections. The commission includes legislative leaders, election officials, advocacy groups, and representatives from major political parties. It will specifically examine implementing a "Top Two Primary system," party nomination rules, primary election dates, and potential changes to the current primary election structure. The commission must submit its findings and any recommended legislation to the state legislature within six months of the bill's passage. This bill itself does not change voting rules but creates a process to study potential reforms.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Election Laws
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jamie Murphy
Jamie Murphy
DDemocratic
MA
4th Norfolk