M.G.L. c. 54

Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title VIII (Elections) — Chapter 54 (Elections)

189 sections · status activeenacted 1921-01-01

Sections

All 189 sections

§	Title	Length	Status
M.G.L. c. 54, § 1	Decennial division of cities into wards and precincts	3,363	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 2	Division of cities and wards into voting precincts; census; effect upon formation of congressional, representative, senatorial or councillor districts	1,635	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 4	New divisions of cities into wards, when effective; congressional districts	395	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 5	Maps or descriptions of new divisions; publication and posting	733	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 6	Division of towns into voting precincts	4,402	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 7	Changes in voting precincts of towns	287	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 7A	Dividing precincts to facilitate voting; applicable laws	1,150	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 8	Maps or descriptions of new precincts; posting	528	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 9	Discontinuance of voting precincts	247	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 9A	Redivision into precincts or districts; elections thereafter; census	778	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 10	Changes in wards; notice to state secretary	372	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 11	Election officers in certain cities	1,635	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 11A	Deputies	239	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 11B	Filing for appointment in cities; procedure; eligibility; examinations	3,683	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 12	Election officers in towns; procedure; eligibility; examinations	4,506	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 13	Party representation; term of office; removal	1,653	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 14	Vacancies; appointment	872	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 15	Eligibility of candidates	761	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 16	Deputies; duties	1,082	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 16A	Vacancies; appointments to fill	396	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 17	Ballot clerks; duties	284	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 20	Oath of office	255	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 22	Compensation of election officers	260	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 23	Supervisors of elections; political party representation; violations	1,820	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 24	Designation of polling places	2,965	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 25	Marking shelves and guard rails	1,533	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 25A	Display of national flag	201	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 25B	Early voting; application for early voting ballots; early voting period, sites and lists; counting of early voting ballots	14,000	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 25C	Correctional facility; voting	7,912	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 26	State ballot boxes; furnishing	285	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 27	Blank forms and envelopes for returns; injury, tampering, or destruction; penalties	937	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 28	Care, custody and repair of ballot boxes, counting apparatus, and voting machines	707	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 29	Replacement of defective, lost or destroyed ballot boxes	199	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 30	Voting place or precinct seals; use and custody	536	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 30A	Custodians of voting machines; duties; eligibility	1,369	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 31	Sending ballot boxes, blank forms, and counting apparatus to polls; installation of voting machines; voters' authority certificates	1,467	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 32	Examination and approval of voting equipment	1,967	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33	Requirements and use of voting machines, electronic voting systems, and ballots	2,917	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33A	Additional requirements for voting machines	1,846	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33B	Use of voting machines; regulations; mechanical failures	1,927	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33C	Instructions to voter after entering voting machine booth; re-entry after voting	897	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33D	Voting for persons not listed on ballot labels of machine	270	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33E	Electronic voting systems; marking implements; stickers or pasters on ballots; inspection; instructions to voters; write-in candidates	3,011	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33F	Computers and counting units; central tabulation centers; preparation; testing	1,529	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33G	Lease or purchase of marking units or tabulating units; bonds from manufacturers or distributors	733	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33H	Election officers for tabulation center; tabulation of votes	2,975	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 33I	Examination of electronic poll books; compliance with minimum requirements; approval for use in elections	1,608	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 34	Use of voting machines by cities and towns	2,999	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 35	Public exhibition of voting machines; instruction to voters; delivery to polls; examination	3,889	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 35A	Challenged or absent voting ballots where voting machines used; questions submitted to voters	1,109	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 35B	Casting challenged votes where voting machines used; counting votes	3,519	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 36	Number of election officers present when voting machines used	359	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 37	Regulations for use of voting machines, ballot boxes, etc.	857	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 39	Seller's bonds; electronic voting systems, voting machines or ballot boxes	846	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 40	Preparation and furnishing	338	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 41	Names; residences; political designation; incumbents	3,792	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 41A	Governor and lieutenant governor candidates; grouping party nominees; order	1,151	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 42	Arrangement of names; blank spaces; name of city or town, etc.	5,004	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 42A	Questions submitted to voters; designation	1,215	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 42B	Public policy questions; placement on ballots	164	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 42C	Deadline for ballot questions	586	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 43	Presidential electors; arrangement of names	637	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 43A	State elections and primaries; officers to be elected; manner and order of appearance on ballots	2,283	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 44	Official ballots	828	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 45	Number of ballots provided; ballot labels for voting machines	752	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 46	Packaging ballots; record	219	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 47	Vacancies; printing ballots	336	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 48	Cards of instruction; specimen ballots; copies of information for voters material	1,379	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 48A	Voters' bill of rights; postings; preparation and revision	970	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 49	Lists of candidates; copies of proposed constitutional amendments or laws	662	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 50	City elections; posting names of candidates	270	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 51	Town elections; posting names of candidates	299	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 52	Lists of candidates; questions submitted to voters; availability for publication; state and city elections	846	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 53	Mailing lists of voters; copies of measures, summaries, ballot question titles, statements and arguments to voters; public examination; petition for amendment	3,077	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 54	Arguments on measures; preparation; submission, filing; printing; mailing	1,786	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 58A	General Laws submitted to municipal voters for acceptance; form of question; filing date	1,717	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 59	Packaging and delivery to city or town clerks	1,096	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 60	Duties of city and town clerks; delivery to polls; receipts	1,171	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 61	Failure to deliver; substitute ballots	451	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 62	Biennial state elections	254	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 63	Calling city and town elections; notice	1,102	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 64	Notices or warrants; requisites; time of opening and closing polls	1,974	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 65	Activities at polling places; regulations; penalties	3,378	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 66	State ballot boxes; use and custody	2,782	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 67	Voting lists; delivery and use; voting by persons not on list	1,275	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 67A	Additional state ballot boxes; use in towns	566	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 68	Statements made before public declaration of vote; penalties	763	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 69	Persons permitted within guard rail	613	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 70	Number of voters permitted within guard rail; voters in line at closing time	1,423	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 71	Presiding officers; powers and duties	507	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 71A	Supervision of election officers in cities and towns	116	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 72	Preservation of order by police	481	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 73	Smoking or intoxicating liquors in polling places prohibited; penalties	804	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 74	Detention of offenders; effect on right to vote	506	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 75	Report of violations; prosecutions	341	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 76	Voting; giving name and address upon request; delivery of ballot	752	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 76B	Failure to present voter identification; right to challenge vote	2,915	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 76C	Provisional ballot	5,072	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 77	Marking ballots	661	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 78	Voting for presidential electors, governor, and lieutenant governor; marking ballots	1,477	active
M.G.L. c. 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	1,061	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 79	Assistance in marking ballots	312	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 80	Prohibited markings; use of red pencils or red ink by election officers	596	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 81	Spoiled ballots	193	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 82	Folding ballots; time for marking ballots	665	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 83	Deposit of ballots, voting list check, endorsement	757	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 84	Removal of ballots before close of polls	296	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 85	Challenge of person's right to vote, procedures	873	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 85A	Challengers	1,055	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 86	Absent or physically disabled voters	1,974	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 87	Preparation of absent voting ballots, envelopes, instructions	1,338	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 88	Distribution of absent voting ballots	244	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 89	Applications; seasonably filed; spoiled ballots; application by family member	2,512	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 91	Applications; filing and certification; notation on voting lists; posting	2,848	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 91A	Applications of specially qualified voters	1,613	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 91B	Delivery of ballots	1,995	active
M.G.L. c. 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	3,471	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 92	Method of voting	2,208	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 93	Time for mailing or delivering ballots	665	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 94	Examination of ballots; acceptance or rejection	3,042	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 95	Duties of election officers; deposit of absent voting ballots; receipt and counting of federal write-in absentee ballots	6,830	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 96	Challenges	773	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 97	Immaterial irregularities	260	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 98	Absent voter unable to mark ballot	406	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 99	Late ballots; disposition	643	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 102	Printed information and instructions as to absent voting	478	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 103	Jurisdiction of courts	670	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 103A	Sections applicable to city and town elections, primaries and caucuses, and to regional vocational school district elections	1,515	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 103P	City or town elections; preliminary elections or primaries	2,151	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 103Q	Informality; liberal construction	309	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 104	Use of state blank forms and apparatus; canvass of votes	917	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 105	Proceedings at close of polls; counting votes; announcing and recording results	4,291	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 105A	Electronic voting methods; proceedings at close of polls; counting of ballots; announcement of vote; transportation to tabulation center	5,214	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 106	Defective ballots	585	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 107	Enclosing and sealing ballots and voting lists; certification	1,781	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 108	Copies of voting lists as checked	693	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 109	Ballots and lists; custody; disposition	991	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 109A	Audit of votes following presidential general election	7,938	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 110	Rejection of records	149	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 110A	Central tabulation facilities	530	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 111	Examination of precinct records; errors; certification	903	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 112	Copies of records of votes to state secretary	1,521	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 113	Unsealed copies transmitted to state secretary; proceedings	477	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 114	Endorsement or memorandum of receipt	212	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 115	Copies of records of votes to governor and council; examination; determination of results	920	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 116	Certification of results; summons; certificates of election	1,555	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 116A	Election of person not listed on state ballot; financial interest statement	365	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 117	Return to state secretary; laying before legislature; filing	552	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 118	Presidential electors; copies of records of votes; proclamations; certificate of election	791	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 119	Petition to court for declaration of election; notice; hearing	1,304	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 120	Procedure; compulsion and immunity of witness	1,245	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 121	Examination of records; certificates of election; notice to state secretary	766	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 122	Board of examiners; duties; certificates of election; notice to state secretary	1,060	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 123	Incomplete records; new copies of returns	500	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 129	Copies of returns of votes; transmittal to state secretary	294	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 130	Number of ballots cast; statement at length	242	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 131	Violations; effect on records	392	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 132	Number of names checked; certification	1,064	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 133	Number of registered voters, etc.; report	690	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 134	Contested elections; retention of ballots; recounts	659	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 135	Petition for recount; filing; contents; examination; recounts; notice; amendment of records	14,000	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 135A	Recount where voting machines used; period during which machines locked and sealed	5,030	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 135B	Recount where electronic voting system used; petition specifying recount by hand	548	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 136	Information regarding ballots cast by challenged voters	155	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 137	Election results in cities; declaration before recounts; certificates of election	719	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 138	Presidential electors	650	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 140	Senators and representatives in congress; vacancies	2,374	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 141	Representatives in general court; vacancies	742	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 142	District attorneys and county officers	1,319	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 143	County treasurers; registers of deeds	1,818	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 143A	Register of deeds; vacancies	674	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 144	County commissioners	973	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 145	Death after election but before term	198	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 146	Notice to state secretary	377	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 147	Elections to fill vacancies	193	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 148	Meetings; organization; record of proceedings	539	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 149	Compensation	180	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 150	State officers	460	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 151	Presidential electors	352	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 152	Senators in congress	252	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 153	Representatives in congress	122	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 154	District attorneys	261	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 155	Clerks of courts	371	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 156	Registers of probate	171	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 157	Registers of deeds	243	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 158	County commissioners	1,300	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 159	Sheriffs	158	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 160	County treasurers	198	active
M.G.L. c. 54, § 162	Regional district school committees members	320	active