Press Article: Massachusetts Leaders Push for Privacy on Ballots
In response to recent violent attacks against state lawmakers, Massachusetts officials are advocating for the removal of home addresses from election ballots. This proposal arises following the tragic shooting of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman in Minnesota. The alleged shooter had reportedly compiled lists of names and addresses of potential targets, raising serious concerns about the safety of public officials.
State Rep. Jacob Oliveira is spearheading the effort with a bill aimed at amending the way candidate information is displayed on ballots. Currently, Massachusetts sample ballots include home addresses for candidates across various local offices, a practice that could jeopardize their safety. Under the proposed legislation, only the city or town for candidates seeking state office or the corresponding district for local positions would be published.
Oliveira, who serves as the senate vice chair on the Joint Committee on Election Laws, expressed concern over lawmakers’ visibility in public spaces, emphasizing that they are not insulated from the public. A review of ballots from other states indicates that Massachusetts is an outlier in disclosing such personal information. In neighboring New Hampshire, personal details about lawmakers have already been temporarily taken offline due to safety considerations.
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