Driscoll Advocates on the Floor to Pass Randolph Home Rule

JANUARY 23, 2026

Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) took to the Senate floor during session on Thursday, January 22nd to push for the body’s passage of a Randolph home rule. Having been passed to be engrossed, S. 509 – An Act relative to the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole in the city known as the town of Randolph is a home rule petition that permits the Town of Randolph to print ballots for state elections in both English and Haitian Creole. Representing the Town of Randolph since 2017, the Senator spoke about how this legislation is purposeful and aims to meet the needs of Randolph.

Every five years the U.S. Department of Justice reviews the most recent-census data to identify areas with high numbers or percentages of people who speak a particular language to determine what languages should be required on ballots and where those ballots should be made available. S.509 will, in a way, accelerate the process of making ballots available. Rather than waiting for the next federal review to potentially institute Haitian Creole ballots in Randolph, this home rule allows the Town to offer these ballots on their own during future elections.

This change is timely given significant changes in population size, distribution, and composition in Randolph over the past 25 years. These changes are driven by national migration trends; political changes in the Caribbean and unrest on the island; and natural disasters that have all occurred in Haiti in that time frame. As one of the most diverse towns in Massachusetts, Haitian Creole speakers are a growing segment of Randolph’s community.

Despite these population changes, in recent years the Town has conversely seen a decrease in voter turnout. It can be discerned that this decrease in voter turnout is in relation to an increase in Haitian residents whose primary language is Haitian Creole. Offering Haitian Creole ballots for this growing population would help expand and easily extend this opportunity to these residents, further increasing voter turnout and greater participation in government. Making this change is especially pertinent for this next election cycle as there will likely be several ballot questions. Ultimate passage of this home rule will better inform and ease the process for Haitian Creole speakers to participate and vote.

Beyond Randolph, this action has added importance in the context of what is happening in the Commonwealth and around the nation relative to immigration. When Naturalized citizens swear an oath and become official citizens and full fledged members of our democracy, they gain the right to vote. Right now across the nation, immigrants who have completed the several year due process to become a naturalized citizen are being disrespected and turned away at the final step by the federal government. There is great fear being sown by this federal government. Passing this action allows Randolph to welcome naturalized citizens whose primary language is Haitian Creole to vote and participate in democracy.

During his remarks, Driscoll pointed to how An Act relative to the preparation of bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole in the city known as the town of Randolph is about inclusivity, access to government, and civic participation. This home rule reflects an effort to welcome more people to participate in the fundamentals of democracy. Moving forward this action is a direct effort to expand voting access, and ensures that those eager to engage in our government have an equitable opportunity to do so.

The bill now goes to the House for its review.

###