Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 43, § 44B

Except as otherwise provided in section forty-four G, there shall not be printed on the official ballot to be used at any regular or special election the name of any person as a candidate for any office unless such person has been nominated as such at a preliminary election for nomination, held as provided in sections forty-four A to forty-four G, inclusive. There shall not be printed on the official ballot for use at such preliminary election the name of any candidate for nomination at such election, unless he shall have filed, within the time limited by section forty-four C, the statement and petition therein described.