Massachusetts Chapter 54 — Elections

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Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 1— Decennial division of cities into wards and precincts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 2— Division of cities and wards into voting precincts; census; effect upon formation of congressional, representative, senatorial or councillor districts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 3— Repealed, 1971, 820, Sec. 5
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 4— New divisions of cities into wards, when effective; congressional districts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 5— Maps or descriptions of new divisions; publication and posting
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 6— Division of towns into voting precincts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 7— Changes in voting precincts of towns
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 7A— Dividing precincts to facilitate voting; applicable laws
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 8— Maps or descriptions of new precincts; posting
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 9— Discontinuance of voting precincts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 9A— Redivision into precincts or districts; elections thereafter; census
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 10— Changes in wards; notice to state secretary
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 11— Election officers in certain cities
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 11A— Deputies
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 11B— Filing for appointment in cities; procedure; eligibility; examinations
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 12— Election officers in towns; procedure; eligibility; examinations
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 13— Party representation; term of office; removal
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 14— Vacancies; appointment
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 15— Eligibility of candidates
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 16— Deputies; duties
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 16A— Vacancies; appointments to fill
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 17— Ballot clerks; duties
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 20— Oath of office
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 21— Repealed, 1960, 431, Sec. 4
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 22— Compensation of election officers
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 23— Supervisors of elections; political party representation; violations
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 24— Designation of polling places
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 25— Marking shelves and guard rails
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 25A— Display of national flag
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 25B— Early voting; application for early voting ballots; early voting period, sites and lists; counting of early voting ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 25C— Correctional facility; voting
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 26— State ballot boxes; furnishing
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 27— Blank forms and envelopes for returns; injury, tampering, or destruction; penalties
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 28— Care, custody and repair of ballot boxes, counting apparatus, and voting machines
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 29— Replacement of defective, lost or destroyed ballot boxes
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 30— Voting place or precinct seals; use and custody
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 30A— Custodians of voting machines; duties; eligibility
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 31— Sending ballot boxes, blank forms, and counting apparatus to polls; installation of voting machines; voters' authority certificates
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 32— Examination and approval of voting equipment
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33— Requirements and use of voting machines, electronic voting systems, and ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33A— Additional requirements for voting machines
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33B— Use of voting machines; regulations; mechanical failures
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33C— Instructions to voter after entering voting machine booth; re-entry after voting
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33D— Voting for persons not listed on ballot labels of machine
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33E— Electronic voting systems; marking implements; stickers or pasters on ballots; inspection; instructions to voters; write-in candidates
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33F— Computers and counting units; central tabulation centers; preparation; testing
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33G— Lease or purchase of marking units or tabulating units; bonds from manufacturers or distributors
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33H— Election officers for tabulation center; tabulation of votes
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 33I— Examination of electronic poll books; compliance with minimum requirements; approval for use in elections
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 34— Use of voting machines by cities and towns
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 35— Public exhibition of voting machines; instruction to voters; delivery to polls; examination
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 35A— Challenged or absent voting ballots where voting machines used; questions submitted to voters
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 35B— Casting challenged votes where voting machines used; counting votes
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 36— Number of election officers present when voting machines used
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 37— Regulations for use of voting machines, ballot boxes, etc
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 38— Repealed, 1977, 930, Sec. 8
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 39— Seller's bonds; electronic voting systems, voting machines or ballot boxes
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 40— Preparation and furnishing
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 41— Names; residences; political designation; incumbents
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 41A— Governor and lieutenant governor candidates; grouping party nominees; order
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 42— Arrangement of names; blank spaces; name of city or town, etc
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 42A— Questions submitted to voters; designation
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 42B— Public policy questions; placement on ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 42C— Deadline for ballot questions
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 43— Presidential electors; arrangement of names
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 43A— State elections and primaries; officers to be elected; manner and order of appearance on ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 44— Official ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 45— Number of ballots provided; ballot labels for voting machines
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 46— Packaging ballots; record
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 47— Vacancies; printing ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 48— Cards of instruction; specimen ballots; copies of information for voters material
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 48A— Voters' bill of rights; postings; preparation and revision
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 49— Lists of candidates; copies of proposed constitutional amendments or laws
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 50— City elections; posting names of candidates
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 51— Town elections; posting names of candidates
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 52— Lists of candidates; questions submitted to voters; availability for publication; state and city elections
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 53— Mailing lists of voters; copies of measures, summaries, ballot question titles, statements and arguments to voters; public examination; petition for amendment
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 54— Arguments on measures; preparation; submission, filing; printing; mailing
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 58A— General Laws submitted to municipal voters for acceptance; form of question; filing date
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 59— Packaging and delivery to city or town clerks
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 60— Duties of city and town clerks; delivery to polls; receipts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 61— Failure to deliver; substitute ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 62— Biennial state elections
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 63— Calling city and town elections; notice
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 64— Notices or warrants; requisites; time of opening and closing polls
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 65— Activities at polling places; regulations; penalties
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 66— State ballot boxes; use and custody
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 67— Voting lists; delivery and use; voting by persons not on list
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 67A— Additional state ballot boxes; use in towns
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 68— Statements made before public declaration of vote; penalties
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 69— Persons permitted within guard rail
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 70— Number of voters permitted within guard rail; voters in line at closing time
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 71— Presiding officers; powers and duties
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 71A— Supervision of election officers in cities and towns
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 72— Preservation of order by police
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 73— Smoking or intoxicating liquors in polling places prohibited; penalties
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 74— Detention of offenders; effect on right to vote
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 75— Report of violations; prosecutions
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 76— Voting; giving name and address upon request; delivery of ballot
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 76A— Repealed, 1975, 95
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 76B— Failure to present voter identification; right to challenge vote
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 76C— Provisional ballot
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 77— Marking ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 77A— Repealed, 1972, 400, Sec. 8
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 78— Voting for presidential electors, governor, and lieutenant governor; marking ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 78A— List of candidates for electors pledged to presidential candidates other than those on official ballot; written acceptances; filing; certification; form of write-in or sticker vote
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 79— Assistance in marking ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 80— Prohibited markings; use of red pencils or red ink by election officers
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 81— Spoiled ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 82— Folding ballots; time for marking ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 83— Deposit of ballots, voting list check, endorsement
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 84— Removal of ballots before close of polls
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 85— Challenge of person's right to vote, procedures
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 85A— Challengers
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 86— Absent or physically disabled voters
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 87— Preparation of absent voting ballots, envelopes, instructions
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 88— Distribution of absent voting ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 89— Applications; seasonably filed; spoiled ballots; application by family member
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 89A— Repealed, 1993, 475, Sec. 37
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 90— Repealed, 1946, 140, Sec. 14
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 91— Applications; filing and certification; notation on voting lists; posting
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 91A— Applications of specially qualified voters
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 91B— Delivery of ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 91C— Absentee ballot for Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or UOCAVA, voter; entering application for ballot into voter registration information system; transmission of absentee ballot
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 92— Method of voting
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 93— Time for mailing or delivering ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 94— Examination of ballots; acceptance or rejection
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 95— Duties of election officers; deposit of absent voting ballots; receipt and counting of federal write-in absentee ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 96— Challenges
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 97— Immaterial irregularities
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 98— Absent voter unable to mark ballot
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 99— Late ballots; disposition
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 100— Repealed, 2022, 92, Sec. 22
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 101— Repealed, 1987, 438, Sec. 8
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 102— Printed information and instructions as to absent voting
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 103— Jurisdiction of courts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 103A— Sections applicable to city and town elections, primaries and caucuses, and to regional vocational school district elections
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 103I— Repealed, 1967, 115, Sec. 1
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 103P— City or town elections; preliminary elections or primaries
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 103Q— Informality; liberal construction
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 104— Use of state blank forms and apparatus; canvass of votes
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 105— Proceedings at close of polls; counting votes; announcing and recording results
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 105A— Electronic voting methods; proceedings at close of polls; counting of ballots; announcement of vote; transportation to tabulation center
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 106— Defective ballots
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 107— Enclosing and sealing ballots and voting lists; certification
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 108— Copies of voting lists as checked
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 109— Ballots and lists; custody; disposition
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 109A— Audit of votes following presidential general election
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 110— Rejection of records
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 110A— Central tabulation facilities
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 111— Examination of precinct records; errors; certification
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 112— Copies of records of votes to state secretary
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 113— Unsealed copies transmitted to state secretary; proceedings
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 114— Endorsement or memorandum of receipt
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 115— Copies of records of votes to governor and council; examination; determination of results
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 116— Certification of results; summons; certificates of election
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 116A— Election of person not listed on state ballot; financial interest statement
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 117— Return to state secretary; laying before legislature; filing
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 118— Presidential electors; copies of records of votes; proclamations; certificate of election
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 119— Petition to court for declaration of election; notice; hearing
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 120— Procedure; compulsion and immunity of witness
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 121— Examination of records; certificates of election; notice to state secretary
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 122— Board of examiners; duties; certificates of election; notice to state secretary
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 123— Incomplete records; new copies of returns
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 129— Copies of returns of votes; transmittal to state secretary
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 130— Number of ballots cast; statement at length
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 131— Violations; effect on records
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 132— Number of names checked; certification
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 133— Number of registered voters, etc.; report
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 134— Contested elections; retention of ballots; recounts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 135— Petition for recount; filing; contents; examination; recounts; notice; amendment of records
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 135A— Recount where voting machines used; period during which machines locked and sealed
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 135B— Recount where electronic voting system used; petition specifying recount by hand
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 136— Information regarding ballots cast by challenged voters
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 137— Election results in cities; declaration before recounts; certificates of election
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 138— Presidential electors
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 139— Repealed, 2004, 236, Sec. 5
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 140— Senators and representatives in congress; vacancies
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 141— Representatives in general court; vacancies
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 142— District attorneys and county officers
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 143— County treasurers; registers of deeds
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 143A— Register of deeds; vacancies
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 144— County commissioners
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 145— Death after election but before term
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 146— Notice to state secretary
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 147— Elections to fill vacancies
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 148— Meetings; organization; record of proceedings
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 149— Compensation
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 150— State officers
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 151— Presidential electors
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 152— Senators in congress
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 153— Representatives in congress
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 154— District attorneys
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 155— Clerks of courts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 156— Registers of probate
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 157— Registers of deeds
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 158— County commissioners
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 159— Sheriffs
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 160— County treasurers
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 161— Repealed, 1972, 735, Sec. 10
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 162— Regional district school committees members