"It creates an atmosphere of violence and revenge," Wolf said.

No one has been executed in Massachusetts since 1947, but this will be the second time in two years that the House has voted on the death penalty.

In 1997 the bill failed in a dramatic 80 to 80 tie in the House. Representatives expect this year's vote to be just as close.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we will defeat the bill," Demakis said.

Three of Cambridge's five state senators reached yesterday said they would vote against the death penalty.

They include Sen. Steven A. Tolman, Sen. Robert E. Travaglini and Sen. Robert A. Havern III'72, again all Democrats. Were the bill to pass the House, the Senate would consider it.

"I'm almost positive it's going to fail in the House," Havern said.

Though the vote may fail, the representatives do not expect the issue to die. According to state law, bills can be brought to the floor every two years.

"It's just going to take another killing [to resurrect debate about the death penalty]" Havern said, adding that the debate will rise again before long.

Timothy J. Toomey Jr., also a Democratic representative from Cambridge, was unavailable for comment yesterday. Toomey supported the death penalty in the 1997 vote.