BOSTON – Senate Majority Leader Frederick E. Berry (D-Peabody) has filed legislation to grant a ten-day grace period for active duty soldiers who vote by absentee ballot in city final elections.

Currently, an absentee ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on election day to be counted in a city final election. Berry’s legislation would mandate that any ballot received from active duty service men and women up to ten days after a city final election be counted. Such a provision is already in place for federal and state elections.

Berry filed the bill with Representative Michael J. Michael Ruane (Salem) after being approached by a constituent, Richard Harrington of Salem. Harrington’s son, Andrew, is serving with the United States Army Reserves in Iraq. Harrington contacted Berry because he was upset that Andrew’s absentee ballot for Salem’s preliminary municipal election was not received in time to be counted for that election.

“The right to vote is one of the foundations of our democracy,” said Berry. “We should be doing everything possible to accommodate our soldiers and sailors when they vote by absentee ballot. Disenfranchisement is not another sacrifice service men and women should have to make for us.”

Berry’s legislation was filed as a late file petition.