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Mass. General Laws c.53

Nominations, questions to be submitted to the voters, primaries and caucuses

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 53. Please note that sections that appear missing have been either reserved for future use or repealed.

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§ 1 Parties entitled to make nominations
§ 2 NNominations and elections; necessity; procedureominations and elections; necessity; procedure
§ 3 Nomination of person not printed on primary ballot; acceptance; statement of financial interest
§ 4 Conventions to nominate candidates; dates
§ 5 Certificate of nomination; contents; signatures; filing; written acceptance of candidate

Amended by St. 2026, c. 137, § 51, effective January 1, 2027

§ 6 Nomination papers; contents; number of signatures; unenrolled candidates
§ 7 Nomination papers; signatures; addresses; submission; deadlines; correction procedures; certification and checking; special elections
§ 7A Nomination papers for city offices; deadlines; signatures; certification and checking
§ 8 Certificates of nomination and nomination papers; contents; party designation
§ 9 Certificate of nomination and nomination papers; certification of candidate as registered voter; acceptance procedure
§ 9A Nomination papers for cities or towns; applicable provisions
§ 10 Certificates of nomination and nomination papers; time for filing
§ 11 Certificates of nomination and nomination papers; objections; filing
§ 13 Withdrawal of nominated candidates
§ 14 Death, withdrawal or ineligibility of nominated candidates; filling vacancies; objections
§ 15 Certificate of nomination to fill vacancy; contents; acceptance
§ 16 Certificates of nomination, etc.; public inspection; preservation

Amended by St. 2026, c. 137, § 52, effective January 1, 2027

§ 17 Blank forms for nominations
§ 17A Procedure
§ 18 Proposed amendments to federal constitution; opinion of voters ascertained
§ 18A Nonbinding public opinion advisory questions on local ballots
§ 18B Information relating to questions on city, town or district ballot; contents; written arguments by principal proponents and opponents; public inspection
§ 19 Questions of public policy submitted in certain districts upon application
§ 20 Applications; signatures; identification; certification; submission
§ 21 Applications; filing deadline; number of questions; resubmission
§ 22 Instructions to representatives; necessity of majority vote
§ 22A Signing petitions; forms; receipt; filing date
§ 23 Sections applicable to all primaries
§ 24 Applicability of sections relating to elections and corrupt practices
§ 25 Withdrawal of nominations
§ 28 Dates and places for holding primaries
§ 29 Designation of primary officers; compensation
§ 30 Designation of primary officers; wards or towns
§ 31 Ineligibility to act as primary officers
§ 32 Ballots; preparation; number
§ 33 Ballots; color; specimen ballots
§ 34 Ballots; contents; arrangement; form

Amended by St. 2026, c. 137, § 53, effective January 1, 2027

§ 34A Absentee ballots; application; forms; envelopes; preparation
§ 35 Cross constituting as vote
§ 35A Use of pasters or stickers
§ 35B Persons nominated by pasters or write-ins; notice
§ 36 Delivery of ballots, etc., at polling places; posting specimen ballots
§ 37 Party enrollment of voters
§ 37A Absentee ballots; application; unenrolled voters; recording upon voting lists
§ 38 Party designation of voters and eligibility to vote under party enrollments; certificate to establish, change or cancel enrollment
§ 38A Enrolled and unenrolled voters; precinct count
§ 39 Counting votes
§ 40 Number of votes necessary to nominate candidate not on ballot
§ 40A Petitions for recounts
§ 41 Sections applicable to nominations at state primaries
§ 42 Primaries held by wards, precincts or groups of precincts; notice to state secretary
§ 43 Polls; hours when open
§ 44 Nomination papers; number of signatures
§ 45 Nomination papers; contents; signatures; acceptance; number of candidates; penalty provisions
§ 46 Nomination papers; submission to registrars; certification; correction of district; number of names
§ 47 Nomination papers; preparation; availability
§ 48 Nomination papers; certificates of nomination; filing; political party membership; term limits
§ 49 Nomination in case of withdrawal, death or ineligibility
§ 50 Vacancies caused by withdrawal; nominations to fill; objections
§ 51 Counting ballots
§ 52 Canvass and return of votes; certification and notification of nominees
§ 53 Vacancies caused by ties; filling
§ 53A Objections to nominations; withdrawals by nominees
§ 55 Primaries for city and town nominations; objections; withdrawals
§ 56 Primaries for nomination; submission of question; notice of result to state secretary
§ 57 Notices of intention to participate in primaries
§ 58 Blank nomination papers; contents
§ 59 Nominations on blank nomination papers; signatures; acceptance
§ 60 Nomination papers; contents
§ 61 Nomination papers; filing; certification; correction of district
§ 62 Death, withdrawal, or ineligibility of candidates; filling vacancies
§ 63 Polls; hours
§ 64 Returns of votes; canvass and certification
§ 70A Sections applicable
§ 70B Delegates to national conventions; election; number
§ 70C Primaries by wards, precincts or groups of precincts; notice to state secretary
§ 70D Nomination papers
§ 70E Order of names on ballots; statement of preference; preferential vote count
§ 70F Canvass of returns; notice; certification; certificates
§ 70G Filling vacancies
§ 70H Applicability of certain other sections
§ 70I Delegates and alternate delegates to national conventions; voting for president on first roll call
§ 71 Nomination at caucuses
§ 72 Regulations for city or town caucuses
§ 72A Time for holding city or town caucuses
§ 73 Caucuses held by precincts or groups of precincts; notice
§ 74 Caucuses relative to special elections
§ 75 Calling of caucuses; notice
§ 76 Persons entitled to vote or take part in caucuses; oath; challenges; penalties
§ 77 Balloting; use of voting lists
§ 78 Tie vote for caucus officers
§ 79 Certificate of election; notice of nomination
§ 80 Returns of caucuses where direct nominations made; tabulation of results; notice; recounts
§ 81 Tie votes in direct nominations; filling vacancies
§ 82 Polling places provided; notice
§ 83 Notice of caucuses; procedure
§ 84 Balloting; duration
§ 85 Tie vote for elective office; proceedings
§ 86 Ballots and check lists; transmission to city or town clerk; preservation
§ 87 Contested elections or nominations; preservation of ballots; notice; recount; penalties
§ 88 Calling of caucuses
§ 89 Adoption of law for official ballots; calling caucuses; notice
§ 90 Revocation of acceptance of special provisions; notice
§ 91 Time of holding caucuses
§ 92 Notices of caucuses; contents
§ 93 Provision of polling places; voting lines
§ 94 Notice by city or town committees
§ 95 Blank nomination papers; contents
§ 96 Nominations made by nomination papers; acceptance; vacancies
§ 97 Nomination papers; sealing; filing; opening
§ 98 Correction of errors; notice
§ 99 Proceedings in cities when papers not filed; filling vacancies
§ 100 Proceedings in towns when papers not filed
§ 101 Withdrawals; filling vacancies
§ 102 Nomination papers; delivery to city or town clerk
§ 103 Nomination papers; correction of errors
§ 104 Objections to nomination papers
§ 105 Ballots; provision by cities or towns
§ 106 Form of official ballot

Amended by St. 2026, c. 137, § 54, effective January 1, 2027

§ 107 Applicability of certain laws
§ 108 Order of business
§ 109 Challenges
§ 110 Counting of ballots; announcement of result; sealing; transmittal of records
§ 111 Voting lists; certified copies
§ 112 Recount of ballots
§ 113 Caucus officers; eligibility; terms; oaths; duties
§ 114 Vacancies; additional officers
§ 115 Appointment of officers for first caucus
§ 116 Caucus officers in newly incorporated cities or cities redivided into wards
§ 117 Caucuses to nominate municipal officers; convention delegates; committees
§ 118 Notice of caucus; chairman; order of business
§ 119 Elections by ballot; written request
§ 120 Preservation of ballots and voting lists
§ 121 Calling town caucus at annual meeting; rescission; nominations; tie vote
§ 122 Regional school district-wide elections; applicable provisions

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