Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54 – Elections | Midpage1Decennial division of cities into wards and precincts2Division of cities and wards into voting precincts; census; effect upon formation of congressional, representative, senatorial or councillor districts4New divisions of cities into wards, when effective; congressional districts5Maps or descriptions of new divisions; publication and posting6Division of towns into voting precincts7Changes in voting precincts of towns7ADividing precincts to facilitate voting; applicable laws8Maps or descriptions of new precincts; posting9Discontinuance of voting precincts9ARedivision into precincts or districts; elections thereafter; census10Changes in wards; notice to state secretary11Election officers in certain cities11ADeputies11BFiling for appointment in cities; procedure; eligibility; examinations12Election officers in towns; procedure; eligibility; examinations13Party representation; term of office; removal14Vacancies; appointment15Eligibility of candidates16Deputies; duties16AVacancies; appointments to fill17Ballot clerks; duties20Oath of office22Compensation of election officers23Supervisors of elections; political party representation; violations24Designation of polling places25Marking shelves and guard rails25ADisplay of national flag25BEarly voting; application for early voting ballots; early voting period, sites and lists; counting of early voting ballots25CCorrectional facility; voting26State ballot boxes; furnishing27Blank forms and envelopes for returns; injury, tampering, or destruction; penalties28Care, custody and repair of ballot boxes, counting apparatus, and voting machines29Replacement of defective, lost or destroyed ballot boxes30Voting place or precinct seals; use and custody30ACustodians of voting machines; duties; eligibility31Sending ballot boxes, blank forms, and counting apparatus to polls; installation of voting machines; voters' authority certificates32Examination and approval of voting equipment33Requirements and use of voting machines, electronic voting systems, and ballots33AAdditional requirements for voting machines33BUse of voting machines; regulations; mechanical failures33CInstructions to voter after entering voting machine booth; re-entry after voting33DVoting for persons not listed on ballot labels of machine33EElectronic voting systems; marking implements; stickers or pasters on ballots; inspection; instructions to voters; write-in candidates33FComputers and counting units; central tabulation centers; preparation; testing33GLease or purchase of marking units or tabulating units; bonds from manufacturers or distributors33HElection officers for tabulation center; tabulation of votes33IExamination of electronic poll books; compliance with minimum requirements; approval for use in elections34Use of voting machines by cities and towns35Public exhibition of voting machines; instruction to voters; delivery to polls; examination35AChallenged or absent voting ballots where voting machines used; questions submitted to voters35BCasting challenged votes where voting machines used; counting votes36Number of election officers present when voting machines used37Regulations for use of voting machines, ballot boxes, etc.39Seller's bonds; electronic voting systems, voting machines or ballot boxes40Preparation and furnishing41Names; residences; political designation; incumbents41AGovernor and lieutenant governor candidates; grouping party nominees; order42Arrangement of names; blank spaces; name of city or town, etc.42AQuestions submitted to voters; designation42BPublic policy questions; placement on ballots42CDeadline for ballot questions43Presidential electors; arrangement of names43AState elections and primaries; officers to be elected; manner and order of appearance on ballots44Official ballots45Number of ballots provided; ballot labels for voting machines46Packaging ballots; record47Vacancies; printing ballots48Cards of instruction; specimen ballots; copies of information for voters material48AVoters' bill of rights; postings; preparation and revision49Lists of candidates; copies of proposed constitutional amendments or laws50City elections; posting names of candidates51Town elections; posting names of candidates52Lists of candidates; questions submitted to voters; availability for publication; state and city elections53Mailing lists of voters; copies of measures, summaries, ballot question titles, statements and arguments to voters; public examination; petition for amendment54Arguments on measures; preparation; submission, filing; printing; mailing58AGeneral Laws submitted to municipal voters for acceptance; form of question; filing date59Packaging and delivery to city or town clerks60Duties of city and town clerks; delivery to polls; receipts61Failure to deliver; substitute ballots62Biennial state elections63Calling city and town elections; notice64Notices or warrants; requisites; time of opening and closing polls65Activities at polling places; regulations; penalties66State ballot boxes; use and custody67Voting lists; delivery and use; voting by persons not on list67AAdditional state ballot boxes; use in towns68Statements made before public declaration of vote; penalties69Persons permitted within guard rail70Number of voters permitted within guard rail; voters in line at closing time71Presiding officers; powers and duties71ASupervision of election officers in cities and towns72Preservation of order by police73Smoking or intoxicating liquors in polling places prohibited; penalties74Detention of offenders; effect on right to vote75Report of violations; prosecutions76Voting; giving name and address upon request; delivery of ballot76BFailure to present voter identification; right to challenge vote76CProvisional ballot77Marking ballots78Voting for presidential electors, governor, and lieutenant governor; marking ballots78AList of candidates for electors pledged to presidential candidates other than those on official ballot; written acceptances; filing; certification; form of write-in or sticker vote79Assistance in marking ballots80Prohibited markings; use of red pencils or red ink by election officers81Spoiled ballots82Folding ballots; time for marking ballots83Deposit of ballots, voting list check, endorsement84Removal of ballots before close of polls85Challenge of person's right to vote, procedures85AChallengers86Absent or physically disabled voters87Preparation of absent voting ballots, envelopes, instructions88Distribution of absent voting ballots89Applications; seasonably filed; spoiled ballots; application by family member91Applications; filing and certification; notation on voting lists; posting91AApplications of specially qualified voters91BDelivery of ballots91CAbsentee ballot for Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or UOCAVA, voter; entering application for ballot into voter registration information system; transmission of absentee ballot92Method of voting93Time for mailing or delivering ballots94Examination of ballots; acceptance or rejection95Duties of election officers; deposit of absent voting ballots; receipt and counting of federal write-in absentee ballots96Challenges97Immaterial irregularities98Absent voter unable to mark ballot99Late ballots; disposition102Printed information and instructions as to absent voting103Jurisdiction of courts103ASections applicable to city and town elections, primaries and caucuses, and to regional vocational school district elections103PCity or town elections; preliminary elections or primaries103QInformality; liberal construction104Use of state blank forms and apparatus; canvass of votes105Proceedings at close of polls; counting votes; announcing and recording results105AElectronic voting methods; proceedings at close of polls; counting of ballots; announcement of vote; transportation to tabulation center106Defective ballots107Enclosing and sealing ballots and voting lists; certification108Copies of voting lists as checked109Ballots and lists; custody; disposition109AAudit of votes following presidential general election110Rejection of records110ACentral tabulation facilities111Examination of precinct records; errors; certification112Copies of records of votes to state secretary113Unsealed copies transmitted to state secretary; proceedings114Endorsement or memorandum of receipt115Copies of records of votes to governor and council; examination; determination of results116Certification of results; summons; certificates of election116AElection of person not listed on state ballot; financial interest statement117Return to state secretary; laying before legislature; filing118Presidential electors; copies of records of votes; proclamations; certificate of election119Petition to court for declaration of election; notice; hearing120Procedure; compulsion and immunity of witness121Examination of records; certificates of election; notice to state secretary122Board of examiners; duties; certificates of election; notice to state secretary123Incomplete records; new copies of returns129Copies of returns of votes; transmittal to state secretary130Number of ballots cast; statement at length131Violations; effect on records132Number of names checked; certification133Number of registered voters, etc.; report134Contested elections; retention of ballots; recounts135Petition for recount; filing; contents; examination; recounts; notice; amendment of records135ARecount where voting machines used; period during which machines locked and sealed135BRecount where electronic voting system used; petition specifying recount by hand136Information regarding ballots cast by challenged voters137Election results in cities; declaration before recounts; certificates of election138Presidential electors140Senators and representatives in congress; vacancies141Representatives in general court; vacancies142District attorneys and county officers143County treasurers; registers of deeds143ARegister of deeds; vacancies144County commissioners145Death after election but before term146Notice to state secretary147Elections to fill vacancies148Meetings; organization; record of proceedings149Compensation150State officers151Presidential electors152Senators in congress153Representatives in congress154District attorneys155Clerks of courts156Registers of probate157Registers of deeds158County commissioners159Sheriffs160County treasurers162Regional district school committees members