reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 54 § 121 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 121 - Examination of Records; Certificates of Election; Notice to State Secretary

Section 121. The county commissioners to whom the copies of the records of votes for county treasurer and register of deeds have been transmitted shall, on the first Wednesday of the month following the election, examine such copies, determine what persons appear to be elected, issue certificates of election to them and give notice to the state secretary of the name, residence, and number of votes received by each candidate in each city and town, with the name and term of office of every person elected.  In Suffolk county, the election commissioners of Boston shall, within ten days after the election of register of deeds, in like manner examine the copies of the records of votes, determine who appears to be elected, issue a certificate and give notice as above provided.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 122 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 122 - Board of Examiners; Duties; Certificates of Election; Notice to State Secretary

Section 122. In each county, except Suffolk and Nantucket, the judge and register of the probate court and the clerk of the courts shall be a board of examiners; and if two of said offices are held by the same person in any county, the sheriff shall be a member of the board. The members of said board shall each be paid at the rate of three dollars a day for every day employed in the performance of their duties and ten cents a mile for travel to and from the place of their meeting; and their accounts shall be audited and settled by the county treasurer. Said board shall meet on the first Wednesday of the month following an election for county commissioners and shall examine such copies, determine what persons appear to be elected, issue certificates of election to them and give notice to the state secretary of the name, residence and number of votes received by each candidate in each city and town, with the name and term of office of every person so elected, and shall, within three days thereafter deposit said copies in the office of the clerk of the courts.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 123 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 123 - Incomplete Records; New Copies of Returns

Section 123. If it shall appear to the governor and council, to the board of examiners, to the election commissioners or to the county commissioners, that any copy of a record of votes examined by them is incomplete or erroneous, they may order a new copy of the records to be made and transmitted to them. Such new copy shall be transmitted by the city or town clerk within seven days thereafter, and if found to be correct and in conformity to the requirements of law, shall have the same force as a first copy.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 129 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 129 - Copies of Returns of Votes; Transmittal to State Secretary

Section 129. City and town clerks shall, within fifteen days after an election for representative in the general court, transmit to the state secretary an attested copy of the record of votes cast for all candidates for said office in each voting precinct and in each town not divided into voting precincts.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 130 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 130 - Number of Ballots Cast; Statement at Length

Section 130. The whole number of ballots cast at elections shall be stated in words at length in the records of votes and in all copies thereof, but if not so stated, the record or copy shall not be invalid if the true result can be ascertained therefrom.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 131 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 131 - Violations; Effect on Records

Section 131. A violation by a public officer or election officer of laws relative to providing ballot boxes, blank forms and other apparatus or to the care and preservation thereof, or to the manner of canvassing and counting votes, shall not invalidate any record or copy of a record or certificate made by a city, precinct or town clerk, or affect the title of a person declared to be elected to office.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 132 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 132 - Number of Names Checked; Certification

Section 132. The city or town clerk shall, within fifteen days after an election of state, city or town officers, certify to the state secretary the total number of voters checked on the voting list at such election in each voting precinct of the town. In the case of an election of state officers said clerk shall send a duplicate copy, sealed, to said state secretary, to be by him transmitted to the governor and council. The committee of the council tabulating the returns of votes shall include in their report thereon the number of ballots cast in a district wherein a question is submitted to the voters and a return thereon is made to the state secretary. The city or town clerk shall within fifteen days after an election at which electors of president and vice-president are to be chosen likewise certify to the state secretary the total number of names checked on the list of persons qualified to vote only for such electors at such election in each voting precinct or town, and a duplicate copy thereof, sealed, to be by him transmitted to the governor and council.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 133 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 133 - Number of Registered Voters, etc.; Report

Section 133. The state secretary shall before February first of each year report to the general court the number of registered voters in each city and town at the date of the last preceding state, and city or town election, as the case may be, and the total number of persons who voted at each such election in every city and town, and in every voting precinct therein, and, in the year following a state election, the number of votes received by each candidate for nomination and for election for a state office, and for election for a state committee, arranged by cities, towns and districts, and a concise statement of other matters relating to elections, with such suggestions as he deems advisable.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 134 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 134 - Contested Elections; Retention of Ballots; Recounts

Section 134. If a person who has received votes for any office at an election shall, within thirty days thereafter, himself or by his agent serve upon a city or town clerk a written claim to such office or a declaration of an intention to contest the election of any other person, the clerk shall retain the envelopes or containers containing the ballots for such office until such claim is withdrawn or the contest is determined. Any court of competent jurisdiction, or any body having jurisdiction under any constitution, statute, or charter to judge the elections or returns of its own members, may require the clerk to produce such envelopes or containers and ballots.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 135b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 135b - Recount Where Electronic Voting System Used; Petition Specifying Recount by Hand

Section 135B. The recount of the votes cast in any polling place where an electronic voting system is used shall consist of the inserting of the original ballots or ballot cards in a computer or tabulating mechanism which has been programmed and tested in accordance with section thirty-three F; provided, that if the recount petition so specifies, said recount shall consist of the checking of the original ballots or ballot cards by hand. Any such recount shall be in conformity with the provisions of section one hundred and thirty-five, so far as applicable.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 136 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 136 - Information Regarding Ballots Cast by Challenged Voters

Section 136. No officer recounting ballots shall, except as required by law, make any statement or give any information relative to a ballot cast by a challenged voter.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 137 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 137 - Election Results in Cities; Declaration Before Recounts; Certificates of Election

Section 137. The city clerk shall not declare the result of an election for city officers or of a vote upon any question submitted to the voters until the time for filing a petition for a recount of ballots has expired, or, if such petition has been filed, until the ballots have been recounted and the returns amended, notwithstanding any special act relating to the city. After the ballots have been recounted and the records amended, the city clerk shall forthwith declare the result of the election, and shall thereupon issue certificates of their election to the persons elected. No person elected to a city office shall act in an official capacity by virtue of such election before his certificate of election has been issued.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 138 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 138 - Presidential Electors

Section 138. If, upon examination of the copies of the records of votes for presidential electors, it appears that a majority of the whole number of electors has not been chosen, the governor shall forthwith, by proclamation, call together the general court; and the senators and representatives assembled in joint convention shall by ballot choose electors to complete the full number.  If the whole number of electors has not been chosen when the electors meet on the date fixed under federal law, or if an elector has died or is then absent, the electors present shall forthwith choose electors from the citizens of the commonwealth to complete the full number.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 140 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 140 - Senators and Representatives in Congress; Vacancies

Section 140. (a) Upon failure to choose a senator or representative in congress or upon creation of a vacancy in that office, the governor shall immediately cause precepts to be issued to the aldermen in every city and the selectmen in every town in the district, directing them to call an election on the day appointed in the precepts for the election of such senator or representative. The day so appointed shall not be more than 160 nor less than 145 days after the date that a vacancy is created or a failure to choose occurs. Filing a letter of resignation creates a vacancy under this section, even if the resignation is not effective until some later time, but the date of the election to fill a vacancy under this section shall be after the resignation is effective.  (b) If a vacancy under this section is created after February 1 of an even-numbered year, the governor shall not issue the precepts required by subsection (a), except as subsection (c) provides for a vacancy for senator.  (c) If a vacancy is created for senator in congress after April 10 of an even-numbered year, the governor shall issue precepts under this section, unless section 152 requires that office to appear on the biennial state election ballot in that year. If this section prevents issuance of precepts for senator, the office shall appear on the biennial state election ballot in that year. If a vacancy for senator is created after April 10 of an even-numbered year, but on or before the seventieth day preceding the regular state primary, the precepts shall appoint the day of the regular state primary and the biennial state election for holding the special primary and special election required by this section.  (d) If at the time a senator or representative in congress is elected at the biennial state election, there exists a vacancy in that office, the senator or representative shall also be deemed to have been elected to serve out that vacancy.  (e) A senator elected to fill a vacancy under this section shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.  (f) Upon failure to choose a senator in congress or upon a vacancy in that office, the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy; provided, however, that the person so appointed shall serve until the election and qualification of the person duly elected to fill the vacancy pursuant to subsection (a) or (c).
MA Gen L ch 54 § 141 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 141 - Representatives in General Court; Vacancies

Section 141. Upon a vacancy in the office of representative in the general court or upon failure to elect, the speaker of the house of representatives shall issue precepts to the aldermen of each city and the selectmen of each town comprising the district or any part thereof, appointing such time as the house of representatives may order for an election to fill such vacancy; provided, that if such vacancy occurs during a recess between the first and second annual sessions of the same general court, the speaker may fix the time for an election to fill such vacancy. All such elections shall be held on a Tuesday. Upon receipt of such precepts, the aldermen or the selectmen shall call an election, which shall be held in accordance with the precepts.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 142 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 142 - District Attorneys and County Officers

Section 142. Upon failure to choose a district attorney, clerk of the courts or in Suffolk county of the supreme judicial or superior court, register of probate or sheriff, the governor shall cause precepts to be issued to the proper officers, directing them to call an election on the day appointed therein for the election of such officer.  Upon a vacancy by removal or otherwise in any of the above named offices, he shall in like manner cause precepts to be issued for an election to fill such vacancy at the next biennial state election for which precepts can be seasonably issued, unless the term of the office expires on the first Wednesday of January following such state election.  Upon a vacancy in the office of district attorney, register of probate or sheriff, the governor with the advice and consent of the council may appoint some person thereto until a district attorney, register of probate or sheriff is qualified.  Upon a vacancy in the office of clerk of the courts in any county, or of the clerk of the supreme judicial court in Suffolk county, the justices of said court may appoint a clerk to hold the office until a clerk is qualified.  Upon a vacancy in the office of a clerk of the superior court in Suffolk county, the justices of said court may appoint a clerk to hold the office until a clerk is qualified.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 143 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 143 - County Treasurers; Registers of Deeds

Section 143. Upon failure to choose a county treasurer or a register of deeds for a county or district, except Suffolk and Nantucket counties, the county commissioners shall forthwith issue precepts to the aldermen of each city and the selectmen of each town in such county or district, directing them to call an election for the election of such officer on a day appointed therein.  Upon a vacancy by removal or otherwise in the office of county treasurer or of register of deeds in a county or district, except in Suffolk and Nantucket counties, the county commissioners shall in like manner issue precepts for an election to fill such vacancy at the next biennial state election for which precepts can be seasonably issued, unless the term of the office expires on the first Wednesday of January following such state election, and may appoint some person to fill such office until a person is elected thereto and qualified. The person so appointed shall give bond as provided in section three of chapter thirty-five or section three of chapter thirty-six, as the case may be.  Upon failure to choose a register of deeds in Suffolk county, or upon a vacancy in that office, the city council of Boston shall call meetings to elect a register of deeds or to fill such vacancy, as is above provided for an election in other counties; and, upon a vacancy in that office in said Suffolk county, the superior court shall appoint some person to the office until a person is elected thereto and qualified.  Upon failure to choose a register of deeds in Nantucket county, or upon a vacancy in that office, the selectmen of the town of Nantucket shall call a meeting to elect a register of deeds as is above provided for an election in other counties, and may appoint some person to the office until a person is elected thereto and qualified.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 143a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 143a - Register of Deeds; Vacancies

Section 143A. Upon a vacancy by removal or otherwise in the office of register of deeds in a county or district in which said office is under the general superintendency or jurisdiction of the secretary of the commonwealth the secretary shall forthwith issue precepts for an election to fill such vacancy at the next biennial state election for which precepts can be seasonably issued, unless the term of said office expires on the first Wednesday of January following such state election, and the state secretary shall appoint some person to fill such office until a person is elected thereto and qualified. The person so appointed shall give bond as provided in section 3 of chapter 36.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 144 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 144 - County Commissioners

Section 144. Upon failure to choose a county commissioner, the board of examiners shall forthwith issue precepts to the aldermen of each city and to the selectmen of each town in such county, directing them to call an election to elect such officer on a day appointed therein.  Upon a vacancy by removal or otherwise in the office of county commissioner, the board of examiners shall in like manner issue precepts for an election to fill such vacancy at the next biennial state election for which precepts can be seasonably issued, unless the term of office of the commissioner whose office is so vacant expires on the first Wednesday of January following such election.  Also upon such vacancy, the two remaining county commissioners and the clerk of the courts for the county, or a majority of them, may appoint a person, not a resident of the same town as either of the remaining commissioners, to fill the office of county commissioner until a person is elected thereto and qualified.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 145 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 145 - Death After Election but Before Term

Section 145. If a person elected to any of the offices mentioned in the 4 preceding sections dies before the first Wednesday of January following his election, the office shall be filled as in case of a vacancy.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 146 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 146 - Notice to State Secretary

Section 146. The county commissioners in each county shall forthwith notify the state secretary of any vacancy in the office of county treasurer or of register of deeds; and the board of examiners shall give like notice to the state secretary of any vacancy in the office of county commissioner, and in each case they shall send to him a copy of the precepts issued by them for an election.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 147 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 147 - Elections to Fill Vacancies

Section 147. At elections held because of a failure to elect or to fill vacancies, the proceedings shall be the same, so far as applicable, as in elections to the same office at the biennial state election.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 148 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 148 - Meetings; Organization; Record of Proceedings

Section 148. The persons chosen as presidential electors shall meet at the state house on the date fixed by federal law next following their election at three o'clock in the afternoon and organize by the choice of a presiding officer and secretary. The state secretary shall call the meeting to order, call the roll of electors, and preside until a presiding officer shall be chosen. The secretary of the electors shall keep a journal of their proceedings and deposit the same in the office of the state secretary, where it shall be recorded and filed.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 149 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 149 - Compensation

Section 149. Each elector shall receive from the commonwealth three dollars for each day of attendance, and one dollar for every five miles of travel from his residence to the place of meeting.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 150 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 150 - State Officers

Section 150. At the biennial state election there shall be chosen by the voters of the commonwealth, as prescribed by the constitution, a governor, lieutenant governor, state secretary, state treasurer, state auditor and attorney general; by the voters in each councillor district, one councillor; by the voters in each senatorial district, one senator; and by the voters in each representative district, such number of representatives as the district is entitled to elect.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 151 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 151 - Presidential Electors

Section 151. At the biennial state election in each year in which presidential electors are required to be elected, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and representatives in congress to which the commonwealth is entitled, shall be chosen by the voters of the commonwealth in the manner and with the effect provided by section seventy-eight.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 152 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 152 - Senators in Congress

Section 152. At the biennial state election in nineteen hundred and twenty-two, and in every sixth year thereafter, and in nineteen hundred and twenty-four, and in every sixth year thereafter, a senator in congress shall be chosen by the voters of the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 153 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 153 - Representatives in Congress

Section 153. At each biennial state election a representative in congress shall be chosen by the voters in each congressional district.