[Text of section effective until January 1, 2020. For text effective January 1, 2020, see below.]

Section 42G. All registration agencies shall provide assistance with voter registration as required by 42 USC 1973 gg–5. Registration agencies shall transmit forthwith, within five calendar days, each completed affidavit of voter registration to the board of registrars of the city or town wherein the registrant resides. The state secretary shall adopt regulations governing such transmission, which shall include, but not be limited to, provisions requiring registration agencies to employ the most cost-effective forms of transmission; provided, however, that the department of correction shall provide prison industries assistance in such transmission as the state secretary may require. A registrant shall be deemed to be a registered voter at the time of completion of a signed affidavit at a registration agency or on the date that the affidavit of voter registration is postmarked or on the day that it is delivered by hand to the registrars.

The state secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with additional agencies of state government that agree to function as registration agencies. Such agreements shall provide that the state secretary shall conduct appropriate training of agency staff, shall provide all forms, material and equipment necessary to carry out voter registration activities, and shall have oversight responsibility to insure proper compliance with applicable provisions of federal and state law.

[Text of section as amended by 2018, 205, Sec. 3 effective January 1, 2020. See 2018, 205, Sec. 11. For text effective until January 1, 2020, see above.]

Section 42G. (a) Registration agencies required to provide voter registration services by section 1 of chapter 50 shall conduct voter registration in a manner that is as efficient, comprehensive and automated as practicable. Registration agencies shall transmit each completed affidavit of voter registration to the board of registrars or election commission of the city or town where the registrant resides; provided, however, that an automatic voter registration agency that collects and transmits applicant data electronically shall ensure that the applicant data is transmitted to the state secretary, who shall transmit such information to the board of registrars or election commission of the city or town where the applicant resides. The state secretary shall adopt regulations governing such transmission, which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) provisions requiring electronic transmission; (ii) the frequency and nature of such transmissions; (iii) data security protocols; and (iv) integration with the online portals established pursuant to section 33A. A registrant shall be deemed to be a registered voter at the time of completion of a signed affidavit of voter registration at a registration agency or on the date that the affidavit of voter registration is postmarked or on the day that it is delivered by hand to the registrars.

(b) The state secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with additional agencies of state government that agree to function as registration agencies. Such agreements shall provide that the state secretary shall conduct appropriate training of agency staff, provide all forms, material and equipment necessary to carry out voter registration activities, and have oversight responsibility to ensure proper compliance with applicable provisions of federal and state law.