Chapter 54

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Chapter 54: ELECTIONS

• Section 1 Decennial division of cities into wards and precincts
• Section 2 Division of cities and wards into voting precincts; census; effect upon formation of congressional, representative, senatorial or councillor districts
• Section 3 Repealed, 1971, 820, Sec. 5
• Section 4 New divisions of cities into wards, when effective; congressional districts
• Section 5 Maps or descriptions of new divisions; publication and posting
• Section 6 Division of towns into voting precincts
• Section 7 Changes in voting precincts of towns
• Section 7A Dividing precincts to facilitate voting; applicable laws
• Section 8 Maps or descriptions of new precincts; posting
• Section 9 Discontinuance of voting precincts
• Section 9A Redivision into precincts or districts; elections thereafter; census
• Section 10 Changes in wards; notice to state secretary
• Section 11 Election officers in certain cities
• Section 11A Deputies
• Section 11B Filing for appointment in cities; procedure; eligibility; examinations
• Section 12 Election officers in towns; procedure; eligibility; examinations
• Section 13 Party representation; term of office; removal
• Section 14 Vacancies; filling
• Section 15 Eligibility of candidates
• Section 16 Deputies; duties
• Section 16A Vacancies; appointments to fill
• Section 17 Ballot clerks; duties
• Section 18, 19 Repealed, 1960, 431, Sec. 4
• Section 20 Oath of office
• Section 21 Repealed, 1960, 431, Sec. 4
• Section 22 Compensation of election officers
• Section 23 Supervisors of elections; political party representation; violations
• Section 24 Designation of polling places
• Section 25 Marking shelves and guard rails
• Section 25A Display of national flag
• Section 25B Early voting; application for early voting ballots; early voting period, sites and lists; counting of early voting ballots
• Section 26 State ballot boxes; furnishing
• Section 27 Blank forms and envelopes for returns; injury, tampering, or destruction; penalties
• Section 28 Care, custody and repair of ballot boxes, counting apparatus, and voting machines
• Section 29 Replacement of defective, lost or destroyed ballot boxes
• Section 30 Voting place or precinct seals; use and custody
• Section 30A Custodians of voting machines; duties; eligibility
• Section 31 Sending ballot boxes, blank forms, and counting apparatus to polls; installation of voting machines; voters' authority certificates
• Section 32 Examination and approval of voting equipment
• Section 33 Requirements and use of voting machines, electronic voting systems, and ballots
• Section 33A Additional requirements for voting machines
• Section 33B Use of voting machines; regulations; mechanical failures
• Section 33C Instructions to voter after entering voting machine booth; re-entry after voting
• Section 33D Voting for persons not listed on ballot labels of machine
• Section 33E Electronic voting systems; marking implements; stickers or pasters on ballots; inspection; instructions to voters; write-in candidates
• Section 33F Computers and counting units; central tabulation centers; preparation; testing
• Section 33G Lease or purchase of marking units or tabulating units; bonds from manufacturers or distributors
• Section 33H Election officers for tabulation center; tabulation of votes
• Section 33I Examination of electronic poll books; compliance with minimum requirements; approval for use in elections
• Section 34 Use of voting machines by cities and towns
• Section 35 Public exhibition of voting machines; instruction to voters; delivery to polls; examination
• Section 35A Challenged or absent voting ballots where voting machines used; questions submitted to voters
• Section 35B Casting challenged votes where voting machines used; counting votes
• Section 36 Number of election officers present when voting machines used
• Section 37 Regulations for use of voting machines, ballot boxes, etc.
• Section 38 Repealed, 1977, 930, Sec. 8
• Section 39 Seller's bonds; electronic voting systems, voting machines or ballot boxes
• Section 40 Preparation and furnishing
• Section 41 Names; residences; political designation; incumbents
• Section 41A Governor and lieutenant governor candidates; grouping party nominees; order
• Section 42 Arrangement of names; blank spaces; name of city or town, etc.
• Section 42A Questions submitted to voters; designation
• Section 42B Public policy questions; placement on ballots
• Section 42C Deadline for ballot questions
• Section 43 Presidential electors; arrangement of names
• Section 43A State elections and primaries; officers to be elected; manner and order of appearance on ballots
• Section 44 Official ballots
• Section 45 Number of ballots provided; ballot labels for voting machines
• Section 46 Packaging ballots; record
• Section 47 Vacancies; printing ballots
• Section 48 Cards of instruction; specimen ballots; copies of information for voters material
• Section 48A Voters' bill of rights; postings; preparation and revision
• Section 49 Lists of candidates; copies of proposed constitutional amendments or laws
• Section 50 City elections; posting names of candidates
• Section 51 Town elections; posting names of candidates
• Section 52 Lists of candidates; questions submitted to voters; availability for publication; state and city elections
• Section 53 Mailing lists of voters; copies of measures, summaries, ballot question titles, statements and arguments to voters; public examination; petition for amendment
• Section 54 Arguments on measures; preparation; submission, filing; printing; mailing
• Section 55 to 58 Repealed, 1991, 234, Sec. 11
• Section 58A General Laws submitted to municipal voters for acceptance; form of question; filing date
• Section 59 Packaging and delivery to city or town clerks
• Section 60 Duties of city and town clerks; delivery to polls; receipts
• Section 61 Failure to deliver; substitute ballots
• Section 62 Biennial state elections
• Section 63 Calling city and town elections; notice
• Section 64 Notices or warrants; requisites; time of opening and closing polls
• Section 65 Activities at polling places; regulations; penalties
• Section 66 State ballot boxes; use and custody
• Section 67 Voting lists; delivery and use; voting by persons not on list
• Section 67A Additional state ballot boxes; use in towns
• Section 68 Statements made before public declaration of vote; penalties
• Section 69 Persons permitted within guard rail
• Section 70 Number of voters permitted within guard rail; voters in line at closing time
• Section 71 Presiding officers; powers and duties
• Section 71A Supervision of election officers in cities and towns
• Section 72 Preservation of order by police
• Section 73 Smoking or intoxicating liquors in polling places prohibited; penalties
• Section 74 Detention of offenders; effect on right to vote
• Section 75 Report of violations; prosecutions
• Section 76 Voting; giving name and address upon request; delivery of ballot
• Section 76A Repealed, 1975, 95
• Section 76B Failure to present voter identification; right to challenge vote
• Section 76C Provisional ballot
• Section 77 Marking ballots
• Section 77A Repealed, 1972, 400, Sec. 8
• Section 78 Voting for presidential electors, governor, and lieutenant governor; marking ballots
• Section 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
• Section 79 Assistance in marking ballots
• Section 80 Prohibited markings; use of red pencils or red ink by election officers
• Section 81 Spoiled ballots
• Section 82 Folding ballots; time for marking ballots
• Section 83 Deposit of ballots, voting list check, endorsement
• Section 84 Removal of ballots before close of polls
• Section 85 Challenge of person's right to vote, procedures
• Section 85A Challengers
• Section 86 Absent or physically disabled voters
• Section 87 Preparation of absent voting ballots, envelopes, instructions
• Section 88 Distribution of absent voting ballots
• Section 89 Applications; seasonably filed; spoiled ballots; application by family member
• Section 89A Repealed, 1993, 475, Sec. 37
• Section 90 Repealed, 1946, 140, Sec. 14
• Section 91 Applications; filing and certification; notation on voting lists; posting
• Section 91A Applications of specially qualified voters
• Section 91B Delivery of ballots
• Section 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
• Section 92 Method of voting
• Section 93 Time for mailing or delivering ballots
• Section 94 Examination of ballots; acceptance or rejection
• Section 95 Duties of election officers; deposit of absent voting ballots; receipt and counting of federal write-in absentee ballots
• Section 96 Challenges
• Section 97 Immaterial irregularities
• Section 98 Absent voter unable to mark ballot
• Section 99 Late ballots; disposition
• Section 100 Voting in person; death of absent voter
• Section 101 Repealed, 1987, 438, Sec. 8
• Section 102 Printed information and instructions as to absent voting
• Section 103 Jurisdiction of courts
• Section 103A Sections applicable to city and town elections, primaries and caucuses, and to regional vocational school district elections
• Section 103B to 103H Repealed, 1993, 475, Sec. 46
• Section 103I Repealed, 1967, 115, Sec. 1
• Section 103J to 103O Repealed, 1993, 475, Sec. 46
• Section 103P City or town elections; preliminary elections or primaries
• Section 103Q Informality; liberal construction
• Section 104 Use of state blank forms and apparatus; canvass of votes
• Section 105 Proceedings at close of polls; counting votes; announcing and recording results
• Section 105A Electronic voting methods; proceedings at close of polls; counting of ballots; announcement of vote; transportation to tabulation center
• Section 106 Defective ballots
• Section 107 Enclosing and sealing ballots and voting lists; certification
• Section 108 Copies of voting lists as checked
• Section 109 Ballots and lists; custody; disposition
• Section 109A Audit of votes following presidential general election
• Section 110 Rejection of records
• Section 110A Central tabulation facilities
• Section 111 Examination of precinct records; errors; certification
• Section 112 Copies of records of votes to state secretary
• Section 113 Unsealed copies transmitted to state secretary; proceedings
• Section 114 Endorsement or memorandum of receipt
• Section 115 Copies of records of votes to governor and council; examination; determination of results
• Section 116 Certification of results; summons; certificates of election
• Section 116A Election of person not listed on state ballot; financial interest statement
• Section 117 Return to state secretary; laying before legislature; filing
• Section 118 Presidential electors; copies of records of votes; proclamations; certificate of election
• Section 119 Petition to court for declaration of election; notice; hearing
• Section 120 Procedure; compulsion and immunity of witness
• Section 121 Examination of records; certificates of election; notice to state secretary
• Section 122 Board of examiners; duties; certificates of election; notice to state secretary
• Section 123 Incomplete records; new copies of returns
• Section 124 to 128 Repealed, 1946, 130, Sec. 4
• Section 129 Copies of returns of votes; transmittal to state secretary
• Section 130 Number of ballots cast; statement at length
• Section 131 Violations; effect on records
• Section 132 Number of names checked; certification
• Section 133 Number of registered voters, etc.; report
• Section 134 Contested elections; retention of ballots; recounts
• Section 135 Petition for recount; filing; contents; examination; recounts; notice; amendment of records
• Section 135A Recount where voting machines used; period during which machines locked and sealed
• Section 135B Recount where electronic voting system used; petition specifying recount by hand
• Section 136 Information regarding ballots cast by challenged voters
• Section 137 Election results in cities; declaration before recounts; certificates of election
• Section 138 Presidential electors
• Section 139 Repealed, 2004, 236, Sec. 5
• Section 140 Senators and representatives in congress; vacancies
• Section 141 Representatives in general court; vacancies
• Section 142 District attorneys and county officers
• Section 143 County treasurers; registers of deeds
• Section 143A Register of deeds; vacancies
• Section 144 County commissioners
• Section 145 Death after election but before term
• Section 146 Notice to state secretary
• Section 147 Elections to fill vacancies
• Section 148 Meetings; organization; record of proceedings
• Section 149 Compensation
• Section 150 State officers
• Section 151 Presidential electors
• Section 152 Senators in congress
• Section 153 Representatives in congress
• Section 154 District attorneys
• Section 155 Clerks of courts
• Section 156 Registers of probate
• Section 157 Registers of deeds
• Section 158 County commissioners
• Section 159 Sheriffs
• Section 160 County treasurers
• Section 161 Repealed, 1972, 735, Sec. 10
• Section 162 Regional district school committees members