Massachusetts law about elections and voting

Laws, regulations, cases, and web sources on elections and voting law.

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, or if you have a specific question, please contact our law librarians for assistance.

Note

Due to continual and rapid changes in U.S. election policy, please check the websites of all relevant federal agencies for the most current information.

See also the Massachusetts Law Libraries' legal reference overview and disclaimers.

Best bet

Elections Division, Mass. Secretary of State.
Everything you need to know about the elections process, including:

• How to find election results
• Voter registration and how to vote
• How to vote by absentee ballot
• Voting by mail
• How to run for office or file a petition
• Where do I vote?
• Voters with disabilities
• And more

For answers to a wide variety of voter questions as well as where to report voter fraud call the Secretary of the Commonwealth at 1-800-462-VOTE (8683).

Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 10, § 42 State election campaign fund

MGL c. 50 Elections, general provisions

MGL c. 51 Voters and registration

MGL c. 52 Political committees

MGL c. 53 Nominations, primaries, initiatives

MGL c. 54 Wards, voting districts and voting

MGL c. 55 Campaign finance and disclosure

MGL c. 56 Violations of election laws

MGL c. 149, § 178 Time off to vote

St. 2010, c. 229 An act relative to the agreement among the states to elect the president by national popular vote (National popular vote compact)
An agreement among a group of U.S. states and the District of Columbia to guarantee the presidency to the candidate who wins the popular vote. The compact would go into effect when the participating states have a total of 270 electoral votes.

Massachusetts regulations

950 CMR 46-60 Elections & voting

970 CMR Campaign finance

Federal laws & regulations

Laws

U.S. Code, Title 52 Voting and elections

18 U.S. Code Chapter 29 Elections and political activities (Crimes relating to)

Regulations

CFR, Title 11 Federal elections

Executive orders

Preserving and Protecting the integrity of American Elections (Signed on March 25, 2025)

Selected cases

Selected court cases on the topic of elections and voting

Political parties

Changing political parties, Mass. Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division.
"[Y]ou may change your enrollment status by notifying your election official in writing at least 10 days before an election."

Directory of political parties and designations, Mass. Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division.

Election Advisory #24-02: Electioneering and Signature Gathering within 150 Feet of Voting Locations, Mass. Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division (2024).
Discusses prohibited actions at polling locations, including “Wearing certain political apparel (t-shirts, hats, buttons, pins, stickers, etc.).”

Web sources

Are cell phones/electronic devices allowed at polling locations? Cities and towns may have rules about using electronic devices at polling locations. Please contact your local election office for information.

Election results archive (PD43+), Mass. Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division.
A searchable database of Massachusetts historical and recent election results and statistics.

Federal Election Commission
Administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. Includes a searchable database of who is giving what to whom and guidance in satisfying filing requirements.

The initiative petition process, Mass. Attorney General.
Learn about the submission, review, and certification process of initiative petitions, as well as differences between different types of petitions (referendum, constitutional amendment).

Mass. Office of Campaign and Political Finance
Includes forms and guidance for filing under the campaign finance law. Provides instructions for obtaining public documents from the office.

Time off to vote: See Massachusetts law about time off to vote

Vote.gov
Answers common questions and explains voting rights for people who: are college students; are new U.S. citizens; have a disability; are unhoused; have a felony conviction; are part of the military; are citizens living outside the U.S.

Voting & elections toolkits, American Library Association.
Reference guides with information on all aspects of voting and elections for each state, including Massachusetts. Includes information on voting rights, voter registration, polling places, valid forms of ID, absentee and early voting, overseas voters, state ballot measures, and much more. 

“If you are a U.S. citizen applying for or renewing a driver's license or state ID at the RMV, or applying for health insurance through MassHealth or the Commonwealth Health Connecter, you will be automatically registered to vote, unless you opt out of registering.”

Voting and elections law and history, USA.gov. 
Presidential election process, Voting and election history, Voter ID requirements, Voting and election laws.

Voting as an ex-offender, Nonprofit Vote.org.
Information on eligibility to vote and restoration of voting rights for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.

Print sources

America votes!: Challenges to modern election law and voting rights, 4^th ed., American Bar Association, 2020. (eBook available with library card)

Election law in a nutshell, 3^rd ed., West Group, 2024.

The law of democracy: Legal structure of the political process, 6^th ed., West Academic, 2022.

Massachusetts election administration, campaign finance and lobbying law, 5^th ed., MCLE, 2020.

Principles of the law, election administration, non-precinct voting and resolution of ballot-counting disputes, American Law Institute Publishers, 2019.

Last updated:	April 3, 2025