Senate passes to engross Randolph bill allowing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole

The Massachusetts Senate on third reading passed to be engrossed a Home Rule petition authorizing the Town of Randolph to prepare bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole.

The measure, identified in the session as Senate No. 509, was taken from the orders of the day and read a third time before the chamber. The senator from Norfolk, Fifth Bristol and Plymouth spoke in support of the petition, calling it a matter of inclusion and civic access and saying it would give Haitian Creole–speaking residents a better opportunity to engage in local elections. "Offering ballots in English and Haitian Creole is an action of good government" the senator said, arguing the change could help increase turnout in Randolph.

In remarks to the chamber the senator cited recent turnout figures, noting local turnout of about 13% in 2021 and just over 10% in 2023, and described a U.S. Department of Justice process that reviews census data every five years to identify where language access requirements may be triggered. The senator said Randolph’s request is a municipal decision to accelerate language access rather than waiting for a future federal determination.

The Senate approved the measure by voice vote and passed it to be engrossed. Passing to engross is a legislative step that prepares a bill for final enrollment and further processing; the transcript records a voice vote in favor but does not state a numerical tally. The bill’s immediate procedural status is "passed to be engrossed."