Massachusetts General Laws
Title VIII - Elections
Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses

Section 1 - Parties Entitled to Make Nominations - Section 1. At any primary, caucus or convention held under...

Section 2 - Nominations and Elections; Necessity; Procedure - Section 2. Except in the case of municipal nominations where...

Section 3 - Nomination of Person Not Printed on Primary Ballot; Acceptance; Statement of Financial Interest - Section 3. A person whose name is not printed on...

Section 4 - Conventions to Nominate Candidates; Dates - Section 4. No convention to nominate candidates shall be called...

Section 5 - Certificate of Nomination; Contents; Signatures; Filing; Written Acceptance of Candidate - Section 5. Every certificate of nomination shall state such facts...

Section 6 - Nomination Papers; Contents; Number of Signatures; Unenrolled Candidates - Section 6. Nominations of candidates for any offices to be...

Section 7 - Nomination Papers; Signatures; Addresses; Submission; Deadlines; Correction Procedures; Certification and Checking; Special Elections - [ Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A,...

Section 7a - Nomination Papers for City Offices; Deadlines; Signatures; Certification and Checking - Section 7A. Except where otherwise provided by law, every nomination...

Section 8 - Certificates of Nomination and Nomination Papers; Contents; Party Designation - Section 8. All certificates of nomination and nomination papers shall,...

Section 9 - Certificate of Nomination and Nomination Papers; Certification of Candidate as Registered Voter; Acceptance Procedure - Section 9. Certificates of nomination and nomination papers for state...

Section 9a - Nomination Papers for Cities or Towns; Applicable Provisions - Section 9A. In any city or town which accepts this...

Section 10 - Certificates of Nomination and Nomination Papers; Time for Filing - [ Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A,...

Section 11 - Certificates of Nomination and Nomination Papers; Objections; Filing - Section 11. When certificates of nomination and nomination papers have...

Section 13 - Withdrawal of Nominated Candidates - Section 13. A person nominated as a candidate for any...

Section 14 - Death, Withdrawal or Ineligibility of Nominated Candidates; Filling Vacancies; Objections - Section 14. If a candidate nominated for a state, city...

Section 15 - Certificate of Nomination to Fill Vacancy; Contents; Acceptance - Section 15. When a nomination is made to fill a...

Section 16 - Certificates of Nomination, etc.; Public Inspection; Preservation - Section 16. Certificates of nomination, nomination papers, objections thereto and...

Section 17 - Blank Forms for Nominations - Section 17. The state secretary shall, upon application, provide blank...

Section 17a - Procedure - Section 17A. Upon the filing of a petition with the...

Section 18 - Proposed Amendments to Federal Constitution; Opinion of Voters Ascertained - Section 18. It is hereby declared to be the policy...

Section 18a - Nonbinding Public Opinion Advisory Questions on Local Ballots - Section 18A. As used in this section ''governing body'' shall...

Section 18b - Information Relating to Questions on City, Town or District Ballot; Contents; Written Arguments by Principal Proponents and Opponents; Public Inspection - Section 18B. (a) As used in this section ''governing body''...

Section 19 - Questions of Public Policy Submitted in Certain Districts Upon Application - Section 19. On an application signed by twelve hundred voters...

Section 20 - Applications; Signatures; Identification; Certification; Submission - Section 20. The provisions of law relative to the signing...

Section 21 - Applications; Filing Deadline; Number of Questions; Resubmission - Section 21. Applications shall be filed with the state secretary...

Section 22 - Instructions to Representatives; Necessity of Majority Vote - Section 22. No vote under the three preceding sections shall...

Section 22a - Signing Petitions; Forms; Receipt; Filing Date - Section 22A. The provisions of law relative to the signing...

Section 23 - Sections Applicable to All Primaries - Section 23. Sections twenty-four to forty, inclusive, shall apply to...

Section 24 - Applicability of Sections Relating to Elections and Corrupt Practices - Section 24. Primaries shall be subject to all laws relating...

Section 25 - Withdrawal of Nominations - Section 25. Withdrawals of nominations of persons to be voted...

Section 28 - Dates and Places for Holding Primaries - Section 28. State primaries shall be held on the seventh...

Section 29 - Designation of Primary Officers; Compensation - [ Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A,...

Section 30 - Designation of Primary Officers; Wards or Towns - Section 30. In wards or towns where voting is by...

Section 31 - Ineligibility to Act as Primary Officers - Section 31. A person shall not be ineligible to act...

Section 32 - Ballots; Preparation; Number - Section 32. Ballots shall be prepared and provided, and the...

Section 33 - Ballots; Color; Specimen Ballots - Section 33. Ballots for each party shall be printed on...

Section 34 - Ballots; Contents; Arrangement; Form - Section 34. At the top of each ballot shall be...

Section 34a - Absentee Ballots; Application; Forms; Envelopes; Preparation - Section 34A. Prior to each biennial or special state primary...

Section 35 - Cross Constituting as Vote - Section 35. A cross (X) marked against a name shall...

Section 35a - Use of Pasters or Stickers - Section 35A. Pasters, commonly called stickers, to be used at...

Section 35b - Persons Nominated by Pasters or Write-Ins; Notice - Section 35B. The city or town clerk shall forthwith notify...

Section 36 - Delivery of Ballots, etc., at Polling Places; Posting Specimen Ballots - Section 36. The city or town clerk, before the opening...

Section 37 - Party Enrollment of Voters - [Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A, as...

Section 37a - Absentee Ballots; Application; Unenrolled Voters; Recording Upon Voting Lists - Section 37A. A voter desiring to vote by absentee ballot...

Section 38 - Party Designation of Voters and Eligibility to Vote Under Party Enrollments; Certificate to Establish, Change or Cancel Enrollment - [Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A, as...

Section 38a - Enrolled and Unenrolled Voters; Precinct Count - Section 38A. The board of registrars of voters of every...

Section 39 - Counting Votes - Section 39. In counting votes when the ballots are removed...

Section 40 - Number of Votes Necessary to Nominate Candidate Not on Ballot - Section 40. No person who is a candidate at a...

Section 40a - Petitions for Recounts - Section 40A. Petitions for recounts of the ballots cast at...

Section 41 - Sections Applicable to Nominations at State Primaries - Section 41. Primaries shall be held for the nomination of...

Section 42 - Primaries Held by Wards, Precincts or Groups of Precincts; Notice to State Secretary - Section 42. In cities or towns where the aldermen or...

Section 43 - Polls; Hours When Open - Section 43. The polls at every primary shall be open...

Section 44 - Nomination Papers; Number of Signatures - Section 44. The nomination of candidates for nomination at state...

Section 45 - Nomination Papers; Contents; Signatures; Acceptance; Number of Candidates; Penalty Provisions - Section 45. Every nomination paper shall state in addition to...

Section 46 - Nomination Papers; Submission to Registrars; Certification; Correction of District; Number of Names - Section 46. Every nomination paper of a candidate for state...

Section 47 - Nomination Papers; Preparation; Availability - Section 47. Nomination papers for use in the nomination of...

Section 48 - Nomination Papers; Certificates of Nomination; Filing; Political Party Membership; Term Limits - Section 48. Nomination papers of candidates to be voted on...

Section 49 - Nomination in Case of Withdrawal, Death or Ineligibility - Section 49. If a person nominated to be voted for...

Section 50 - Vacancies Caused by Withdrawal; Nominations to Fill; Objections - Section 50. In cases of withdrawal, nominations to fill vacancies...

Section 51 - Counting Ballots - Section 51. No ballots cast at a state primary in...

Section 52 - Canvass and Return of Votes; Certification and Notification of Nominees - Section 52. Upon receipt of the records of votes cast...

Section 53 - Vacancies Caused by Ties; Filling - Section 53. In case of a tie vote where the...

Section 53a - Objections to Nominations; Withdrawals by Nominees - Section 53A. When nominations at the state primaries are in...

Section 55 - Primaries for City and Town Nominations; Objections; Withdrawals - Section 55. The nomination of candidates of political and municipal...

Section 56 - Primaries for Nomination; Submission of Question; Notice of Result to State Secretary - Section 56. In any city or town which has adopted...

Section 57 - Notices of Intention to Participate in Primaries - Section 57. Notices of intention to participate in primaries shall...

Section 58 - Blank Nomination Papers; Contents - Section 58. The city or town clerk shall seasonably prepare,...

Section 59 - Nominations on Blank Nomination Papers; Signatures; Acceptance - Section 59. Nominations of candidates for elective offices, to be...

Section 60 - Nomination Papers; Contents - Section 60. Section forty-five shall apply to nomination papers for...

Section 61 - Nomination Papers; Filing; Certification; Correction of District - Section 61. All nomination papers of candidates to be voted...

Section 62 - Death, Withdrawal, or Ineligibility of Candidates; Filling Vacancies - Section 62. If a person nominated to be voted for...

Section 63 - Polls; Hours - Section 63. The polls at every such primary shall be...

Section 64 - Returns of Votes; Canvass and Certification - Section 64. City and town clerks shall canvass the returns...

Section 70a - Sections Applicable - Section 70A. Sections seventy B to seventy H, inclusive, shall...

Section 70b - Delegates to National Conventions; Election; Number - Section 70B. In any year in which candidates for presidential...

Section 70c - Primaries by Wards, Precincts or Groups of Precincts; Notice to State Secretary - Section 70C. In cities and towns where the question of...

Section 70d - Nomination Papers - Section 70D. Nominations of candidates for state, ward and town...

Section 70e - Order of Names on Ballots; Statement of Preference; Preferential Vote Count - Section 70E. The state secretary shall cause to be placed...

Section 70f - Canvass of Returns; Notice; Certification; Certificates - Section 70F. Upon the receipt of the records of the...

Section 70g - Filling Vacancies - Section 70G. In case of the death, withdrawal or ineligibility...

Section 70h - Applicability of Certain Other Sections - Section 70H. The provisions of law relating to primaries and...

Section 70i - Delegates and Alternate Delegates to National Conventions; Voting for President on First Roll Call - Section 70I. If there is a roll call vote for...

Section 71 - Nomination at Caucuses - Section 71. In cities and towns which have not accepted...

Section 72 - Regulations for City or Town Caucuses - Section 72. Each city or town committee may make reasonable...

Section 72a - Time for Holding City or Town Caucuses - Section 72A. Caucuses before regular city or town elections shall...

Section 73 - Caucuses Held by Precincts or Groups of Precincts; Notice - Section 73. If in a city, except Boston, or town...

Section 74 - Caucuses Relative to Special Elections - Section 74. Caucuses relative to a special election shall be...

Section 75 - Calling of Caucuses; Notice - Section 75. Every caucus of a political party shall be...

Section 76 - Persons Entitled to Vote or Take Part in Caucuses; Oath; Challenges; Penalties - Section 76. Notices of caucuses shall apply to all members...

Section 77 - Balloting; Use of Voting Lists - Section 77. In balloting, the voting lists furnished under section...

Section 78 - Tie Vote for Caucus Officers - Section 78. If there is a tie vote for any...

Section 79 - Certificate of Election; Notice of Nomination - Section 79. The presiding officer and secretary or clerk of...

Section 80 - Returns of Caucuses Where Direct Nominations Made; Tabulation of Results; Notice; Recounts - Section 80. Returns of all caucuses of political parties at...

Section 81 - Tie Votes in Direct Nominations; Filling Vacancies - Section 81. If there is a tie vote for any...

Section 82 - Polling Places Provided; Notice - Section 82. At least two weeks prior to the date...

Section 83 - Notice of Caucuses; Procedure - Section 83. Notice of caucuses, signed by the chairman and...

Section 84 - Balloting; Duration - Section 84. A ballot shall be taken for the choice...

Section 85 - Tie Vote for Elective Office; Proceedings - Section 85. If a majority of caucus officers is not...

Section 86 - Ballots and Check Lists; Transmission to City or Town Clerk; Preservation - Section 86. The secretary of each caucus shall forthwith, after...

Section 87 - Contested Elections or Nominations; Preservation of Ballots; Notice; Recount; Penalties - Section 87. If within three week days after any caucus...

Section 88 - Calling of Caucuses - Section 88. All caucuses for the election of caucus officers,...

Section 89 - Adoption of Law for Official Ballots; Calling Caucuses; Notice - Section 89. Any city or town committee shall, at the...

Section 90 - Revocation of Acceptance of Special Provisions; Notice - Section 90. A political party in a city or town...

Section 91 - Time of Holding Caucuses - Section 91. All such caucuses of a political party for...

Section 92 - Notices of Caucuses; Contents - Section 92. Notices of caucuses in said cities or towns...

Section 93 - Provision of Polling Places; Voting Lines - Section 93. At least two weeks prior to the day...

Section 94 - Notice by City or Town Committees - Section 94. At least seven days prior to the day...

Section 95 - Blank Nomination Papers; Contents - Section 95. The city or town shall provide, and the...

Section 96 - Nominations Made by Nomination Papers; Acceptance; Vacancies - Section 96. Nominations of candidates for elective city or town...

Section 97 - Nomination Papers; Sealing; Filing; Opening - Section 97. All nomination papers shall be sealed up and...

Section 98 - Correction of Errors; Notice - Section 98. The secretary of the city or town committee...

Section 99 - Proceedings in Cities When Papers Not Filed; Filling Vacancies - Section 99. If, in a city, nomination papers placing persons...

Section 100 - Proceedings in Towns When Papers Not Filed - Section 100. If, in a town, nomination papers placing persons...

Section 101 - Withdrawals; Filling Vacancies - Section 101. A person nominated by a nomination paper may,...

Section 102 - Nomination Papers; Delivery to City or Town Clerk - Section 102. Not less than seven week days before the...

Section 103 - Nomination Papers; Correction of Errors - Section 103. If an error or informality is found in...

Section 104 - Objections to Nomination Papers - Section 104. Objections to nomination papers, and all other questions...

Section 105 - Ballots; Provision by Cities or Towns - Section 105. Ballots for each political and municipal party, ballot...

Section 106 - Form of Official Ballot - Section 106. On the back and outside of each ballot...

Section 107 - Applicability of Certain Laws - Section 107. Caucuses, except as otherwise provided, shall be held...

Section 108 - Order of Business - Section 108. The order of business shall be as follows:...

Section 109 - Challenges - Section 109. If the right of a person offering to...

Section 110 - Counting of Ballots; Announcement of Result; Sealing; Transmittal of Records - Section 110. Immediately after the polls have been declared closed,...

Section 111 - Voting Lists; Certified Copies - Section 111. The city or town clerk, upon written application...

Section 112 - Recount of Ballots - Section 112. If before five o'clock in the afternoon of...

Section 113 - Caucus Officers; Eligibility; Terms; Oaths; Duties - Section 113. At the caucus held for the choice of...

Section 114 - Vacancies; Additional Officers - Section 114. A majority of the caucus officers present at...

Section 115 - Appointment of Officers for First Caucus - Section 115. A city or town committee of a political...

Section 116 - Caucus Officers in Newly Incorporated Cities or Cities Redivided Into Wards - Section 116. In a newly incorporated city, or upon a...

Section 117 - Caucuses to Nominate Municipal Officers; Convention Delegates; Committees - Section 117. A caucus of the voters, or of a...

Section 118 - Notice of Caucus; Chairman; Order of Business - Section 118. The notice for a caucus under the preceding...

Section 119 - Elections by Ballot; Written Request - Section 119. Upon the written request of ten or more...

Section 120 - Preservation of Ballots and Voting Lists - Section 120. The secretary of a caucus held under the...

Section 121 - Calling Town Caucus at Annual Meeting; Rescission; Nominations; Tie Vote - Section 121. A town in which official ballots are used,...

Section 122 - Regional School District-Wide Elections; Applicable Provisions - Section 122. The following provisions shall apply to regional school...

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Massachusetts General Laws Title VIII - Elections Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses

Massachusetts General Laws
Title VIII - Elections
Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses