In response to recent targeted attacks on lawmakers, including the tragic shooting of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman in Minnesota, some Massachusetts leaders are advocating for a bill to remove home addresses from ballots. State Rep. Jacob Oliveira supports this measure to improve safety for candidates, stating that lawmakers often interact in public spaces without security. The proposed change would replace specific home addresses with general location information, such as city or town, on sample ballots, reflecting a growing concern for personal safety in the political realm.
"We don't have drivers, we don't have security details. There's a misnomer in the public that we're isolated. We go to the grocery store, we go to Home Depot, we go to big box stores. People see us. We're not in an ivory tower."
"Following the fatal shooting of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, local leaders are pushing for legislation to remove home addresses from ballots in Massachusetts to enhance safety for lawmakers."
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