reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 51 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 19 - Unequal Political Representation; Notice and Hearing

Section 19. If, upon written complaint to the mayor or to the selectmen, it shall appear, after notice and hearing, that the city or town clerk, when a member of the board of registrars, and two registrars are of the same political party, the mayor or selectmen, as the case may be, shall remove from office the one of such two registrars having the shorter term remaining. If, upon like proceedings, it shall appear, after notice and hearing, that a registrar of voters, other than the city or town clerk, has ceased to act with the political party which he was appointed to represent, the mayor or selectmen, as the case may be, shall remove him from office.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 20 - Vacancies in Board of Registrars; Temporary Registrars

Section 20. If there is a vacancy in the board of registrars caused by death, resignation or retirement or if a member of the board of registrars is unable to perform the duties of his office, or is, at the time of any meeting of said board, absent from the city or town, the mayor or selectmen may, upon the request in writing of a majority of the remaining members of the board, appoint in writing some person to fill such vacancy temporarily, who is of the same political party as the member whose position he is appointed to fill. Such temporary registrar shall perform the duties and be subject to the requirements and penalties provided by law for a registrar of voters.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 21 - Registrars; Term of Office

Section 21. Each registrar shall, unless sooner removed, hold his office for the term for which he is appointed and until his successor is qualified.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 22 - Assistant Registrars in Cities and Towns; Appointment; Term; Political Representation

Section 22. The registrars in cities and towns may appoint assistant registrars for the term of one year, beginning with April first, unless sooner removed by the registrars, and they shall equally represent the different political parties. Assistant registrars shall be subject to the same obligations and penalties as registrars. Registrars may remove an assistant registrar, and may fill a vacancy for the remainder of the term. Registrars may also appoint temporary assistant registrars from time to time to assist in the listing of persons seventeen years of age or over and in the registration of voters at registration sessions as provided for in this chapter, and they shall equally represent the different political parties. Except in Boston, persons appointed to serve temporarily as assistant registrars, or as temporary assistant registrars, shall not be subject to chapter thirty-one.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 22a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 22a - Absent Registration Officers; Appointment; Political Representation; Physically Disabled Registrants

Section 22A. In every city and town the registrars of voters may, before every election at which absent voting is permitted, appoint a sufficient number of absent registration officers who in addition to the registrars and the assistant registrars may attend persons claiming to have the qualifications for voting in their respective cities and towns, but who, by reason of physical disability, are unable to apply in person for registration, to examine such persons relative to their qualifications for voting and to register such of said persons as they find to be qualified. Such absent registration officers shall be appointed from the enrolled voters of their respective cities and towns and shall, as nearly as may be, equally represent the two leading political parties.  Absent registration officers appointed under this section shall, in the performance of their duties, have all the powers, and be subject to all the obligations and penalties, of registrars of voters, but their doings shall be under the direction, and subject to the revision and acceptance, of the registrars of voters.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 23 - Registrars, Assistant Registrars and Absent Registration Officers; Oath of Office; Compensation

Section 23. The registrars, assistant registrars and absent registration officers shall, before entering upon their official duties, each take and subscribe an oath faithfully to perform the same. They shall receive such compensation as the city council or selectmen may determine; but such compensation shall not be regulated by the number of names listed or registered by them, as the case may be, and a reduction of compensation shall apply only to registrars, assistant registrars and absent registration officers appointed thereafter. The city council or selectmen shall provide them suitable rooms, necessary assistance and, when required, transportation. The city or town clerk, when a member of the board of registrars, shall act as clerk thereof, and shall keep a full and accurate record of its proceedings and shall cause such notices as the registrars may require to be properly given.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 24 - Powers and Duties

Section 24. The registrars may cause the duties devolving upon a single registrar to be performed by one or two assistant registrars, and, if two are designated for such duties, they shall be of different political parties. The registrars shall make suitable regulations governing the assistant registrars, whose doings shall be subject to their revision and acceptance.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 25 - Registrars; Assistant Registrars; Compatibility of Offices

Section 25. Every person appointed as a registrar or assistant registrar who is not regularly employed by the registrars shall be a voter of the city or town where he is appointed. No person appointed as a registrar or assistant registrar shall hold an office in the city or town for which he is appointed either by election or by direct appointment of the mayor or of the board of selectmen or of a city manager or town manager or hold an office by election or appointment under the government of the United States or of the commonwealth or of the city or town, except as a justice of the peace, notary public or officer of the state militia; provided, however, that in a town with a population of under two thousand residents, a person may be appointed a registrar or assistant registrar who holds an office in the town for which he is directly appointed by the board of selectmen or town manager, or who holds an office by appointment under the government of the United States or of the commonwealth. The acceptance by a registrar or assistant registrar of any such office shall vacate his appointment as registrar or assistant registrar. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a registrar or assistant registrar from becoming a candidate for election and serving as a member of a home rule charter commission or as a town meeting member.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 26 - Registration Sessions

[ Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A, as amended by 2020, 92, Secs. 1 to 3, effective March 23, 2020, 2020, 92, Secs. 15 to 17 effective June 5, 2020 and 2021, 5, Secs. 1 and 2, effective March 16, 2021, relating to postponing municipal elections, and 2020, 115, Sec. 18, effective July 6, 2020 relating to the last day to register to vote in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]  Section 26. As used in this section and section forty-two H, "election'' shall include every state, city or town primary, preliminary election, election, or town meeting. The registrars, for the purpose of registering voters, shall hold such day and evening sessions as the town, by by-law, or the city, by ordinance, shall prescribe and such other sessions at locations as they deem necessary to allow voters to register and they may for such purposes, use mobile registration units; provided, however, that except as provided in sections thirty-four and fifty, registration for the next election shall take place no later than eight o'clock in the evening on the twentieth day preceding such election and no later than eight o'clock in the evening on the tenth day preceding a special town meeting. Mailed affidavits of registration postmarked before midnight on the final day to register for an election shall be effective for such election, as provided in section forty-two G. If a postmark is unclear or illegible, a mailed affidavit shall be accepted until the fifth day after the final day to register. In any city or town in which the annual city or town election is held on the first Monday in March, in a year when the presidential primary is held, the registration sessions held by the election commissioners or registrars of voters in preparation for the city or town election shall also serve as registration sessions for the primary. If any person applies for registration during a period prior to a regular or special preliminary, primary or election when registration to qualify as a voter in such preliminary, primary or election is prohibited by the provisions of this section, such person, if otherwise qualified, shall be registered and his name shall be placed on the voting lists as a registered voter for all later preliminaries, primaries or elections.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 26a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 26a - High School Voter Challenge Program

Section 26A. (a) The state secretary, in consultation with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the board of elementary and secondary education, shall establish a non-partisan high school voter challenge program and shall promulgate regulations to implement the program in participating high schools in the commonwealth; provided, however, that the regulations shall identify registration time periods that allow eligible students to participate in all municipal and state elections, including primary elections.  (b) Superintendents of schools shall ensure that each voter challenge program implemented in their districts provide opportunities for outreach and for all eligible students to register or pre-register to vote on any participating high school campus. An enrolled high school student may apply to serve as a voter outreach coordinator or be selected to serve as a voter outreach coordinator by a peer nomination process.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 28 - Last Day for Registration

[ Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A, as amended by 2020, 92, Secs. 1 to 3, effective March 23, 2020, 2020, 92, Secs. 15 to 17 effective June 5, 2020 and 2021, 5, Secs. 1 and 2, effective March 16, 2021, relating to postponing municipal elections, and 2020, 115, Sec. 18, effective July 6, 2020 relating to the last day to register to vote in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]  Section 28. They shall hold a continuous session from nine o'clock ante meridian until eight o'clock in the evening on the last day for registration prescribed under section twenty-six; provided, however, that in towns having less than fifteen hundred voters, such session shall be sufficient if it includes the time from two to four o'clock in the afternoon and from seven to eight o'clock in the evening.[ Chapter impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A, as amended by 2020, 92, Secs. 1 to 3, effective March 23, 2020 and 2021, 5, Secs. 1 and 2, effective March 16, 2021 and 2020, 92, Secs. 15 to 17, effective June 5, 2020 relating to postponing municipal elections in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]
MA Gen L ch 51 § 31 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 31 - Final Day for Registration

Section 31. If the final day for registration of voters falls on Sunday or on a holiday, the preceding day shall be the final day for such registration.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 32 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 32 - Places and Hours of Sessions; Notices

Section 32. Registrars shall seasonably post or publish notices stating the places and hours for holding all sessions, including the final sessions preceding any election.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 33 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 33 - Affidavits of Registration

Section 33. Any registrar, at such places as may be appointed, and on the day and during hours designated for the purpose, may receive affidavits of registration, but all the actions of one registrar shall be subject to review and acceptance by the board.  In cities, and in towns having six hundred or more registered voters, any person shall be registered, as aforesaid, during regular business hours.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 33a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 33a - Online Completion of Affidavit of Registration

Section 33A. The state secretary shall create and maintain a secure online portal allowing a person to complete an affidavit of registration online. The registration shall be transmitted by the state secretary to the appropriate local registrar. The online affidavit shall use the person's signature from the registry of motor vehicles records and the registrar of motor vehicles shall make appropriate provisions to facilitate the electronic transfer of the image of the signature to the central voter registry. If the person's signature cannot be found using the online affidavit of registration form, the person shall be so informed and given the option to print the affidavit of registration, append the person's signature and mail or hand deliver the signed affidavit directly to the appropriate registrar of voters. The registrars shall certify the receipt of each completed affidavit of registration and shall notify the person of the disposition of the affidavit. Nothing in this section shall be construed to change any registration deadline or qualification of voting.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 34 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 34 - Persons Not Registered at Close of Registration

Section 34. After eight o'clock in the evening of a day on which registration is to cease, the registrars shall not register any person to vote in the next primary or election, except that they shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to each person waiting in line at said hour of eight o'clock for the purpose of being registered, a card or slip of identification bearing such person's name and shall, before registration ceases, permit such person to register. The registrars may, however, enter or correct on the registers the names of persons (who have registered as voters) between December thirty-first preceding and the close of registration.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 35 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 35 - Omitted Listings Compared With Annual Register of Voters; Exceptions

Section 35. Except in any city or town as to which it is otherwise provided by special law, registrars shall compare all omitted listings with the annual register of voters for the preceding year, and if it appears to their satisfaction that any of said omitted listings is that of a person entitled to vote in such preceding year they shall at any time up to and including the day of the next primary or election enter such name on the current annual register. In every case they shall require the vote by virtue of which such entry or correction is made to be attested by their clerk. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section or of any other general or special law, this section shall apply to the city of Boston and the election commissioners thereof.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 36 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 36 - Affidavit of Voter Registration; Distribution; Expenses

Section 36. The state secretary shall prepare in sufficient quantity blank forms for affidavits of voter registration and shall supply those forms to all registration agencies. The forms shall include the contents required by federal law, including section 6 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. section 1973gg–4, and section 303(b)(4)(A) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 42 U.S.C. section 15483(b)(4)(A). Such form shall be designed to provide the registrant with a copy thereof at the time of registration at a registration agency.  The state secretary shall provide English and Spanish affidavits of voter registration to all registration agencies. Said secretary shall provide forms in such additional languages as he deems necessary or as required by law.  The state secretary shall provide nongovernmental and private entities with sufficient quantities of such affidavit forms free of charge. Said secretary shall make such forms widely available for distribution through governmental, nongovernmental and private entities, with particular emphasis on making them available for organized voter registration programs.  A completed affidavit of voter registration shall be mailed, transmitted or otherwise delivered forthwith, within five calendar days, to the board of registrars of the city or town wherein which registrant resides.  All expenses incurred in the mailing of affidavits by registration agencies, except by the offices of city or town clerks or by individual registrants, shall be paid by the state secretary, subject to appropriation.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 37a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 37a - Inactive Voters List

Section 37A. The name and address of a voter that is not entered in the annual register pursuant to section 37 for 2 consecutive years and who during that time fails to vote in any election shall be maintained on an inactive voters list until such voter has failed to vote in two consecutive biennial state elections and has thereafter been notified, by mail, of such removal from the inactive voters list.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 38 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 38 - Revisions and Corrections of Registers, Etc.

Section 38. The registrars shall, upon the personal application of a listed person for the correction of any error in their original lists, and whenever informed of any such error, make due investigation, and, upon proof thereof, correct the same on their books. When informed that a person whose name has been omitted from the voting lists of a city or town is in a hospital, a sanatorium, a rest home or convalescent or nursing home in another city or town, they shall make due investigation and, upon proof thereof, they shall restore the name of such person to the list of voters at his address of last registration, provided that he has not acquired the qualifications for registration as a voter in the town where he then resides. When informed of the omission of the name of a person who is averred to have resided in the city or town on January first in the then current year and to have been listed there in the preceding year, they shall make due investigation, and, upon proof thereof, add the name to their books. They shall revise and correct the current annual register in accordance with any facts they may have presented to them. They may, for this purpose, require that such facts be presented to them in writing, signed under the penalties of perjury. They shall strike therefrom the name of every deceased voter which has been transmitted to them under section fourteen or which has been electronically transmitted to them. After the name of a voter has been placed upon the current annual register or upon the inactive voters list, they shall not strike such name therefrom unless: (a) the voter has died; (b) they have received a duplicate copy of an affidavit of registration from the registrars of another city or town; (c) they have received a change of address notification from the registry of motor vehicles; (d) they have received a written request from the voter or the voter has confirmed in writing that he has moved to another city or town; or (e) the voter has not responded to the notice described in section thirty-seven and has not voted in the next two biennial state elections following the mailing of such notice.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 40 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 40 - Public Sessions; Inspection of Records

Section 40. The registrars shall perform their duties in open session. They shall distinctly announce the name of every person registering to vote. Their records shall at suitable times be open to public inspection.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 41 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 41 - Preservation of Documents

Section 41. The registrars shall preserve all written applications, complaints, certificates and affidavits received by them, and all other documents in their custody relative to listing and registration, for two years after the dates thereof; provided, however, that original affidavits of registration, or microfilm copies thereof, shall be preserved and shall be deemed to be public records, except large print affidavits of registration.
MA Gen L ch 51 § 41a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 51 - Voters|Section 41a - Duties Imposed by Secs. 10a and 37 in Cities Not Having Registrars

Section 41A. The duties imposed by sections ten A and thirty-seven, respectively, upon registrars of voters shall be performed in Boston and in other cities not having registrars by the election commissioners or other persons or boards having the powers and duties of registrars, or similar powers and duties. The reports required by said section ten A shall in Boston and in such other cities be filed with said commissioners or other persons or boards.