HD 1749 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act updating political terminology

This bill updates election terminology by replacing "Unenrolled" with "Independent" for candidates not affiliated with a political party and for voters who do not enroll with a party. It clarifies that "Independent" cannot be used as a political designation for party qualification (requiring 50 voters to file a request), and instead defines "Independent" as the default status for voters who choose not to enroll with any party. The bill affects candidates running without party affiliation, voters who do not select a party, and election officials who process voter registrations and ballot access. Key changes include removing the term "Unenrolled" from ballot rules and explicitly stating that "Independent" designation applies only to unaffiliated voters, not to political parties.
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P
Photo of Susannah Whipps
Susannah Whipps
IIndependent
MA
2nd Franklin