reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 54 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 16 - Deputies; Duties

Section 16. If a warden, clerk or inspector is absent at the opening of the polls or subsequently on the day of election, or if the office is vacant, the deputy of such officer shall act for that election in his place. If the warden and deputy warden, clerk and deputy clerk, or an inspector and his deputy, shall be absent, the voters of the precinct on nomination and by hand vote shall fill the vacancy, and the officer so elected shall act during the remainder of the election; but otherwise no deputy officer shall act in an official capacity or be admitted to the space reserved for election officers while the polls are open or during the counting of the votes.  In cities where no deputy warden or deputy clerk is appointed, if a warden or clerk is absent at the opening of the polls or subsequently on the day of election, or if the office is vacant, the senior inspector of the same political party as such warden or clerk shall act as warden or clerk for that election, and the voters of the precinct, on nomination and by hand vote, shall fill the vacancy in the office of inspector.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 16a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 16a - Vacancies; Appointments to Fill

Section 16A. In any city or town which accepts this section, if the warden, clerk or inspector, or the deputy of any such officer, if any, is not present at the opening of the polls, the city or town clerk may appoint a person to fill such vacancy who shall be an enrolled voter of the same political party as the absent officer, if any competent person enrolled in such party is present and willing to serve.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 17 - Ballot Clerks; Duties

Section 17. At state elections in cities and in towns, and in city elections, the presiding election officer of each voting place or precinct shall detail two inspectors of different political parties to act as ballot clerks, who shall have charge of the ballots and shall furnish them to voters.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 20 - Oath of Office

Section 20. Every election officer before entering upon the performance of his official duties shall be sworn before the city or town clerk, the presiding officer or clerk at the polls, or any officer qualified to administer oaths, and a record thereof shall be made.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 22 - Compensation of Election Officers

Section 22. Election officers shall receive such compensation as the city council or the selectmen respectively may determine; but no deputy officer shall receive compensation except for attendance at the opening of the polls or for services in place of an absent officer.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 23 - Supervisors of Elections; Political Party Representation; Violations

Section 23. Upon the written petition of ten qualified voters of a ward or of a town, presented at least twenty-one days before a state or city election therein, the governor may appoint, for such ward or town for each voting precinct named in the petition, two voters of the city or town, who shall not be signers of the petition or members of any political committee or candidates for any office, to act as supervisors at such election. One supervisor shall be appointed from each of the two leading political parties. They shall be sworn by the city or town clerk or by an officer qualified to administer oaths. The supervisors shall attend the polling places for which they are appointed, may challenge persons offering to vote, and shall witness the conduct of the election and the counting of votes; but they shall not make any statement tending to reveal the state of the polls before the public declaration of the vote. They shall remain where the ballot boxes are kept after the polls are open and until the ballots are sealed for transmission to the officers entitled to receive them. Each supervisor may affix his signature, for the purpose of identification, to the copy of the record of votes cast, or attach thereto any statement touching the truth or fairness or conduct of the election. Supervisors shall receive such compensation as the city council or selectmen may determine.  Any supervisor appointed under this section violating any provision of this section, or any person who prevents any such supervisor from doing any of the acts authorized by this section, or hinders or molests him in doing any such acts, or aids or abets in preventing, hindering or molesting him in doing any of such acts, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 25 - Marking Shelves and Guard Rails

Section 25. The aldermen or selectmen shall cause each polling place in their respective cities and towns to be provided with a sufficient number of suitable marking shelves or compartments where voters may conveniently and secretly mark their ballots; and they shall cause a guard rail to be so placed that only persons inside thereof can approach within six feet of the ballot boxes or of the marking shelves or compartments, or of the voting machines if any are used. The ballot boxes, marking shelves or compartments and voting machines, if any are used, shall be in view of persons in the polling place outside the guard rail. The number of marking shelves or compartments shall be not less than one for every seventy-five voters at such polling place, and not less than five in any voting precinct of a city, and not less than three in any town or voting precinct thereof, except that, where voting machines are used, only one such marking shelf or compartment need be provided, which shall be for the use of challenged voters. Every marking shelf or compartment shall at all times be provided with proper supplies and conveniences for marking the ballots. Where voting machines are used, one voting machine shall be provided at each polling place for every four hundred voters, or the major part thereof, entitled to vote therein.  Where electronic voting systems are used, if the system requires the use of a special marking unit, such units shall be supplied to a number of not less than one for every one hundred and twenty-five voters.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 25a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 25a - Display of National Flag

Section 25A. In any city or town which accepts this section by vote of its city council or selectmen, the national flag shall be displayed at each polling place during the hours when voting is taking place thereat.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 26 - State Ballot Boxes; Furnishing

Section 26. The state secretary shall, at the expense of the commonwealth, provide every city and town for use at every precinct or division of a precinct therein under the provisions of section seven A with a state ballot box approved by the state secretary in accordance with section thirty-two.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 27 - Blank Forms and Envelopes for Returns; Injury, Tampering, or Destruction; Penalties

Section 27. The state secretary shall provide every city and town with suitable blank forms and envelopes for all certificates, copies of records and returns required to be made at his office, with such printed directions thereon as he may deem necessary; and such other blank forms and suggestions and instructions, as will assist the election officers in the performance of their duties. The clerks of the courts of the several counties shall in like manner provide cities and towns with suitable blank forms and envelopes for all certificates, copies of records and returns required to be made to the county commissioners and boards of examiners.  Whoever wilfully or maliciously injures, tampers with or destroys a ballot box or any of the blank forms or apparatus furnished to a city or town under this section or section twenty-six shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 28 - Care, Custody and Repair of Ballot Boxes, Counting Apparatus, and Voting Machines

Section 28. The clerk of each city or town shall provide therein a place for the safe keeping of the ballot boxes and counting apparatus furnished by the commonwealth, and of voting machines used in such city or town. He shall have the care and custody thereof, and see that they are kept in good order and repair. The custody, care and repair of all such voting machines, ballot boxes and apparatus shall be at the expense of the city or town, but shall be subject to the supervision and control of the state secretary, who may, at the expense of the commonwealth, subject to approval as provided in section thirty-two, cause necessary improvements to be made in any of such voting machines, ballot boxes or apparatus.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 29 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 29 - Replacement of Defective, Lost or Destroyed Ballot Boxes

Section 29. If a state ballot box becomes defective or is lost or destroyed, the state secretary, upon application by the city or town clerk, shall provide another ballot box at the expense of such city or town.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 30 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 30 - Voting Place or Precinct Seals; Use and Custody

Section 30. The city or town clerk shall furnish to the clerk of each voting place or precinct a seal of suitable device with a designation thereon of such voting place or precinct; and such seal shall be used in sealing all envelopes or other containers required by law to be used at elections. The clerk of the voting place or precinct shall retain custody of the seal, and shall, at the end of his term of office, deliver it, with the records of the voting place or precinct and other official documents in his custody to the city or town clerk.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 30a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 30a - Custodians of Voting Machines; Duties; Eligibility

Section 30A. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section thirteen, where voting machines are used the city or town clerk or election commissioners shall appoint in writing one or more custodians of voting machines, who shall assist him or them in the preparation and upkeep of voting machines, shall instruct the election officers in the use of said machines, and shall perform their duties under the supervision of the city or town clerk or election commissioners. If a voting machine requires adjustment during the course of an election, a custodian shall, if requested to do so by the warden, make such repairs or adjustments as may be required to return the voting machine to operating condition, and for this purpose may enter within the guard rail in any polling place, but he shall not make any such adjustments or repairs except in the presence of not less than two election officers of the precinct, who shall be designated by the warden so as to give equal representation to the two leading political parties. No person holding an appointment as an election officer under section eleven shall be appointed a custodian under this section. No person shall be appointed or act as a custodian in a voting precinct where he is a candidate for election, nor shall such person be permitted to perform any work in advance upon a voting machine to be used in such a precinct.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 31 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 31 - Sending Ballot Boxes, Blank Forms, and Counting Apparatus to Polls; Installation of Voting Machines; Voters' Authority Certificates

Section 31. Every city and town clerk shall send to the election officers at each polling place, before the opening of the polls on the day of an election or meeting at which the same are required to be used, the ballot box, blank forms and counting and other apparatus.  Where voting machines are used the city or town clerk on or before the day of election and before the hour fixed for the opening of the polls shall provide for the installation of the machines in the polling places. He shall send to the election officers before the polls are opened on election day blank forms and other necessary supplies, including voters' authority certificates, not less than one for each registered voter, in a form approved by the state secretary. Each voter's certificate shall be so prepared as to be capable of being inserted by the election officer after receiving it from the voter in a suitable container to be furnished by the board or officer responsible for the conduct of the election. The city or town clerk shall also forward to the election officers before the polls are opened an amount of official absent voting ballots to be used in the event all of the voting machines require repair or adjustment during the course of an election. All such ballots cast shall be marked ''cast due to machine failure'' in large type on the back of each ballot. Election officials at such voting place shall indicate on their official voting list those voters using said marked ballots.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 32 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 32 - Examination and Approval of Voting Equipment

Section 32. The state secretary shall examine all types of voting equipment including ballot boxes, counting apparatus, and voting machines and determine whether such equipment complies with the minimum requirements for such equipment imposed by law and whether the use of such equipment would further the efficient administration of elections.  Any person owning or interested in such equipment may submit it to the state secretary for examination. For the purpose of assistance in examining such new equipment, the secretary, subject to appropriation, may employ not more than three individuals who are experts in one or more of the fields of data processing, mechanical engineering and public administration.  Within thirty days after completing the examination and approval of any such equipment the state secretary shall make and file in his office his report on the equipment together with a written or printed description and drawings and photographs clearly identifying the equipment. As soon as practicable after such filing, the state secretary upon request shall send a copy of the report to any governing body within the state.  Any voting equipment that receives the approval of the state secretary may be used for conducting elections. Any voting equipment that does not receive such approval shall not be adopted for or used at any election. After such equipment has been approved by the state secretary, any change or improvement in the equipment that does not impair its accuracy, efficiency or capacity shall not render necessary a reexamination or reapproval of the equipment.  All voting equipment being used upon the effective date of this act shall within twelve months of said effective date be submitted to the state secretary for his approval. Within twenty-four months of the effective date of this act the secretary shall approve or disapprove of such equipment and promulgate uniform regulations for such equipment in accordance with section thirty-seven.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 33 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 33 - Requirements and Use of Voting Machines, Electronic Voting Systems, and Ballots

Section 33. Voting machines shall furnish convenient, simple and satisfactory means of voting at primaries and elections and of ascertaining and recording the true result thereof with facility and accuracy, special regard being given to the prevention and detection of double voting at primaries and elections and of voting for candidates of more than one political party at a primary; but no machine shall be approved which does not secure to the voter as much secrecy in voting as is afforded by the use of the official ballot. Ballot boxes shall have sufficient locks and keys or seal fastenings, and shall contain mechanical devices for receiving and registering every ballot deposited therein; but no such box shall record any distinguishing number or mark upon a ballot. No machine, ballot box or counting apparatus, not approved in accordance with this and the preceding section, shall be used at any election, primary or caucus; nor shall any such machines, ballot boxes or counting apparatus be used except in accordance with the laws relating to primaries and elections.  On voting machines which provide adequate mechanical safeguards, the names of candidates and the questions to be submitted to the voters may be arranged in the same manner as on the official paper ballot. On all other voting machines to be used at state elections the names of the candidates for each office shall be arranged in a horizontal row or vertical column under or opposite to the titles of the offices, to be determined in accordance with the type of mechanical safeguard against over-voting used in the particular machine. At state primaries separate voting machines may be used for the listing of names of candidates of each of the political parties; provided, that the number of machines to be used for each such party in each polling place shall be determined by the city or town clerk or election commissioners and notice of such determination shall be sent to the state secretary not later than one hundred and twenty days preceding the date of the primary.  Electronic voting systems shall furnish convenient and simple means of voting at primaries, preliminary elections and elections, and of ascertaining and recording the results thereof with facility and accuracy, special regard being given to the prevention and detection of double voting, or of voting for candidates of more than one political party at a primary; but no system shall be approved which does not secure to the voter as much secrecy in voting as is afforded by the use of the official ballot.  At primaries, separate marking units, where necessary, may be used for the marking of the ballots of each party, as determined by the city or town clerk.  The arrangement of names and questions on voting machines and on ballots or ballot labels used in electronic voting systems shall be, in general, the same as on the official ballot, except as hereinbefore provided.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 33a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 33a - Additional Requirements for Voting Machines

Section 33A. Voting machines shall be provided with convenient spaces, which shall be specified and described on the cards of instructions, where the name of a person may be written in or a paster or sticker affixed by a voter who desires to vote for a person whose name does not appear on the voting machine. They shall be suitably lighted so that the voter will be able to easily read the titles of the offices, the names of the candidates and the questions submitted to the voters. The machines shall be equipped with proper devices or locks to prevent any operation of the machine before of after the voting, and with the following counters or indicators:—A ''Public Counter'', which shall mean the counter or other device that registers each time the machine is operated during the election and shows the number of persons who have voted thereon, a ''Protective Counter'', which shall mean the device or counter which registers the grand total of times that the machine has been operated, a ''Candidate Counter'', which shall mean the counters on which are registered numerically the votes cast for candidates, a ''Question Counter'', which shall mean the counters upon which are registered numerically the votes cast on questions submitted to the voters, and the ''Vote Indicators'', which shall mean the pointers or other devices upon which are registered the votes for candidates or on questions submitted to voters. Voting machines which contain electronic components need not be equipped with a protective counter, and, instead of candidate and question counters, may be equipped with internal components which register votes electronically. All voting machines used in primary elections shall be so equipped that the election officers can adjust the machines to prevent voters from voting for candidates of any party in which they are not enrolled.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 33b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 33b - Use of Voting Machines; Regulations; Mechanical Failures

Section 33B. During the period the polls are open for voting, the exterior of the voting machine shall remain in plain view of the election officers. If so requested, an election officer shall instruct voters outside the guard rail in the manner of operating the machine. When the name of a voter has been checked on the voting list, as required by sections sixty-seven and seventy-six, and he is found to be qualified to vote, he shall be given a voter's authority certificate and admitted within the guard rail. Before entering a machine, the voter shall hand his voter's authority certificate to the officer in charge of the machine, who shall deposit it in the receptacle provided therefor and shall then release the machine to permit the voter to close the curtain and cast his ballot. Except as otherwise provided in section seventy-nine, during the voting no officer shall be, nor permit any other person to be, in any position to see or learn how any voter is voting or has voted. The election officer attending the machine shall from time to time inspect the face of the machine to see that neither the ballot labels nor the voting indicators have been tampered with or injured. During the election the doors of the counter compartment shall not be unlocked or opened. If through mechanical failure a machine ceases to function, it shall be inspected and put in working order, if possible, by the custodian of voting machines, designated under section thirty A, in the presence of two election officers of different political parties, who shall make and sign a statement setting forth the cause of the failure of the machine to properly operate and such statement shall be filed with the election returns. If the machine cannot be put in working order, it shall be placed out of service for that election and a statement that the machine is out of order shall be signed by the election officers and filed with the election returns.