reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 53 § 40 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 40 - Number of Votes Necessary to Nominate Candidate Not on Ballot

Section 40. No person who is a candidate at a primary for nomination for or election to a political office, if no candidate's name is printed on the ballot therefor, shall be deemed to be nominated or elected unless he receives a number of votes at least equal to the number of signatures which would be required by law to place his name on the ballot at such primary as a candidate as aforesaid.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 40a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 40a - Petitions for Recounts

Section 40A. Petitions for recounts of the ballots cast at a primary of a political party may be signed only by registered voters enrolled in such political party on or before the last day to register to vote for the primary.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 41 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 41 - Sections Applicable to Nominations at State Primaries

Section 41. Primaries shall be held for the nomination of candidates of political parties for all offices to be filled at a state election, except presidential elector. Sections forty-two to fifty-three A, inclusive, shall apply to such primaries.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 42 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 42 - Primaries Held by Wards, Precincts or Groups of Precincts; Notice to State Secretary

Section 42. In cities or towns where the aldermen or selectmen determine the question of holding state primaries by wards, precincts or groups of precincts, they shall give notice of their determination to the state secretary on or before June first; except that in the case of primaries before special elections they shall give such notice at least twenty-one days before the primaries.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 43 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 43 - Polls; Hours When Open

Section 43. The polls at every primary shall be open at least thirteen hours. Such hours shall be designated in cities by the aldermen or councillors, and in towns by by-laws or vote, or, in default of such by-laws or vote, by the selectmen. The polls shall in no case be kept open after eight o'clock in the evening. The polls shall not be closed before eight o'clock in the evening.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 44 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 44 - Nomination Papers; Number of Signatures

Section 44. The nomination of candidates for nomination at state primaries shall be by nomination papers. In the case of the governor, lieutenant-governor, attorney general and United States senator, nomination papers shall be signed in the aggregate by at least ten thousand voters; in the case of the state secretary, state treasurer and state auditor, they shall be signed by at least five thousand voters. Such papers for all other offices to be filled at a state election shall be signed by a number of voters as follows: for representative in congress, two thousand voters; for councillor, district attorney, clerk of courts, register of probate, register of deeds, county commissioner, sheriff and county treasurer, one thousand voters, except that in Barnstable, Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire counties such papers for nomination to the office of clerk of courts, register of probate, register of deeds, county commissioner, sheriff and county treasurer shall be signed by five hundred voters; for state senator, three hundred voters; for representative in the general court, one hundred and fifty voters. In Dukes and Nantucket counties such papers for nomination to all offices within the county to be filled at any state election shall be signed by twenty-five voters. In no event shall the number of signatures required be more than the number of a candidate for the same office in the same electoral district or division to have his name placed on the ballot as provided for under section six.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 45 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 45 - Nomination Papers; Contents; Signatures; Acceptance; Number of Candidates; Penalty Provisions

Section 45. Every nomination paper shall state in addition to the name of the candidate, (1) his residence, with street and number thereof, if any, (2) the office for which he is nominated, and (3) the political party whose nomination he seeks. This information, in addition to the district name or number, if any, shall be stated on the nomination papers before any signature of a purported registered voter is obtained and the circulation of nomination papers without such information is prohibited. The candidate may state, on one or more nomination papers, in not more than eight words, the public offices which he holds or has held. The statement shall clearly indicate that he is a former incumbent thereof if such is the case and, if he is an elected incumbent of an office for which he seeks renomination that he is a candidate for such renomination. If he is a veteran, as defined in section one of chapter thirty-one, the word ''veteran'' may be included in the eight word statement.  Signatures shall be subject to section seven.  A nomination paper shall be valid only in respect to a candidate whose written acceptance is thereon; provided, however, that a candidate for ward or town committee who accepts nomination for such office more than once shall withdraw from all but one such nomination paper or shall be disqualified.  No nomination paper for use in the nomination of candidates to be voted for at state primaries shall contain the name of more than one candidate.  Whoever knowingly subscribes falsely to a statement on a primary nomination paper shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 47 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 47 - Nomination Papers; Preparation; Availability

Section 47. Nomination papers for use in the nomination of candidates to be voted for at state primaries shall be prepared, and on request furnished, by the state secretary. Nomination papers for use in the nomination of candidates for all offices shall be available for use on or before the fifteenth Tuesday preceding the date for filing as provided in section forty-eight, except in the case of primaries before special elections. In no case shall any blank forms for such nominations be larger than eight and one half inches by fourteen inches, nor shall anyone be prohibited from making exact copies of such forms provided by the secretary of state for the purpose of collecting signatures for such nominations, nor shall any such copies be rejected for certification or submittal to the secretary of state.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 49 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 49 - Nomination in Case of Withdrawal, Death or Ineligibility

Section 49. If a person nominated to be voted for at a state primary dies before the day of the primary, or withdraws his name from nomination, or is found ineligible, and there is no other candidate for the party nomination for the office, the vacancy may be filled by the state committee, if the candidate is one to be voted for by all the voters of the commonwealth; and, in the case of candidates for nomination or election in a district, by the members of the ward and town committees in the wards and towns comprising the district.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 50 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 50 - Vacancies Caused by Withdrawal; Nominations to Fill; Objections

Section 50. In cases of withdrawal, nominations to fill vacancies shall be filed with the state secretary within seventy-two week day hours succeeding five o'clock in the afternoon of the last day for filing withdrawals.  They shall be open to objections in the same manner, so far as practicable, as other nominations.  No vacancy caused by withdrawal shall be filled before the withdrawal has been filed.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 51 - Counting Ballots

Section 51. No ballots cast at a state primary in cities or towns shall be counted until the close of the polls.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 52 - Canvass and Return of Votes; Certification and Notification of Nominees

Section 52. Upon receipt of the records of votes cast at state primaries, the city or town clerk shall forthwith canvass the same and within four days after said primary make return of the votes for candidates for nomination for state offices to the state secretary, who shall forthwith canvass such returns, determine the results thereof, notify the successful candidates, and certify to the state committees the names of the persons nominated for state offices. Said secretary shall also forthwith notify a person who has received sufficient votes by pasters or write-ins to be nominated of the necessity of complying with the requirements of section three.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 53 - Vacancies Caused by Ties; Filling

Section 53. In case of a tie vote where the number of persons receiving equal votes exceeds the number of nominations available, there shall be deemed to be a vacancy. If the tie is between candidates for an office to be filled by all the voters of the commonwealth, the vacancy shall be filled by the state committee. If the tie is between candidates for nomination for any other office, the vacancy shall be filled by the members of the ward and town committees in the district for which the nomination is to be made.  All vacancies caused by ties shall be filled only by the choice of one of the candidates receiving the tie vote.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 53a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 53a - Objections to Nominations; Withdrawals by Nominees

Section 53A. When nominations at the state primaries are in apparent conformity with law, they shall be valid unless written objections are made thereto in accordance with the provisions of chapter fifty-five B. A person nominated at such primaries may withdraw his name from nomination by a request signed and duly acknowledged by him and filed with the state secretary within the time prescribed in said chapter fifty-five B for filing objections to such nominations.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 55 - Primaries for City and Town Nominations; Objections; Withdrawals

Section 55. The nomination of candidates of political and municipal parties to be voted for at city and town elections, in cities and towns where such nominations are permitted by law, and which vote that primaries shall be held therein, shall be made under sections twenty-three to forty, and fifty-six to sixty-four, both inclusive.  The provisions of section fifty-three A relative to filing objections to nominations at state primaries and to the withdrawal of names from nomination shall apply in the case of nominations at city or town primaries, except that such objections or withdrawals shall be filed with the city or town clerk.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 56 - Primaries for Nomination; Submission of Question; Notice of Result to State Secretary

Section 56. In any city or town which has adopted the provisions of law for nominating by primaries, the following question shall be put on the official ballot at any city election or annual town meeting on petition of five per cent of the voters registered at the time of the preceding city election or annual town meeting, filed with the city or town clerk on or before the last day for filing nomination papers: ''Shall primaries for the nomination of candidates to be voted for at city (or town) elections continue to be held in this city (or town)?'' In any city or town not nominating by primaries, where such nominations are permitted by law, the following question may, by similar petition, be put on the ballot at the next city election or annual town meeting: ''Shall primaries for the nomination of candidates to be voted for at city (or town) elections be held in this city (or town)?'' In accordance with the result of such vote, such primaries shall or shall not thereafter be held.  Clerks of cities or towns which vote to hold primaries or to rescind such action shall forthwith notify the state secretary of such vote.  The provisions of law relative to the signing of nomination papers of candidates for state office, and to the identification and certification of names thereon and submission to the registrars therefor, shall apply, so far as apt, to the signing of petitions under this section and to the identification and certification of names thereon.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 57 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 57 - Notices of Intention to Participate in Primaries

Section 57. Notices of intention to participate in primaries shall be furnished to the city or town clerk, not later than the thirtieth day prior to the day on which the primaries are to be held, by the city and town committees of such political and municipal parties as are entitled to and desire to participate therein.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 58 - Blank Nomination Papers; Contents

Section 58. The city or town clerk shall seasonably prepare, and the city or town shall provide, blank nomination papers for use in the nomination of candidates to be voted for at city or town primaries. Such papers shall state the place where, and the day and hour prior to which, nomination papers shall be filed. The city or town clerk shall not furnish such papers to any person other than a candidate seeking nomination or a person presenting the signed authorization of a candidate to secure said papers on his behalf.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 59 - Nominations on Blank Nomination Papers; Signatures; Acceptance

Section 59. Nominations of candidates for elective offices, to be voted for at a primary, shall be made by nomination papers, as hereinafter provided. Such nominations shall be made on the blank nomination papers prepared in accordance with the preceding section; and no nomination paper offered for filing shall be received or be valid to which is attached any card, paper or other device containing the name of a candidate, his written acceptance, or the signature of any voter required by this section. Such papers shall be signed by at least five voters of the ward or town where the primary is to be held, who shall add to their signatures the street and number, if any, of their residences. Such papers for a district composed of more than one ward shall be signed by a number of voters equal in the aggregate to not less than five voters for each ward in said district. In towns, nomination papers shall not contain a larger number of names of candidates than there are persons to be elected. In cities, nomination papers shall not contain the name of more than one candidate. No vacancy caused by the death, withdrawal or ineligibility of any candidate shall be filled, unless the person entitled to fill such vacancy files the written acceptance of the candidate who is nominated to fill the vacancy.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 60 - Nomination Papers; Contents

Section 60. Section forty-five shall apply to nomination papers for city and town primaries, except that in towns such nomination papers may contain the names of candidates for any or all of the offices to be filled at the town election, but the number of names of candidates on such paper for any one office shall not exceed the number to be elected thereto.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 61 - Nomination Papers; Filing; Certification; Correction of District

Section 61. All nomination papers of candidates to be voted for at city or town primaries shall be filed with the city or town clerk not less than thirty-five days previous to the day on which the primary is to be held for which the nominations are made. Every such nomination paper shall be submitted at or before five o'clock in the afternoon of the fourteenth day preceding the day on which it must be filed to the registrars of the city or town where the signers appear to be voters, and the registrars shall check each name to be certified by them on the nomination paper and shall forthwith certify thereon the number of signatures so checked which are names of voters both in the city or town and in the district for which the nomination is made and only names so checked shall be deemed to be names of qualified voters for the purposes of nomination. The registrars need not certify a greater number of names than are required to make a nomination, increased by one fifth thereof. Names not certified in the first instance shall not thereafter be certified on the same nomination papers. The city or town clerk shall not be required, in any case, to receive nomination papers for a candidate after receiving papers containing a sufficient number of certified names to make a nomination, increased by one fifth thereof.  The registrars shall inform the candidate submitting such papers if the designation of the district only in which he seeks office is incorrect, and shall give said candidate the opportunity to insert the correct designation on such papers before the signatures are certified. The registrars shall, if the candidate so desires, allow a change of district on the nomination papers, and the registrar and the candidate shall both initial the change of district so made and further shall in writing explain the change of district causing three copies to be made, one each for the registrar and candidate and one to be attached to the nomination papers. If the correct district designation is not so inserted, the nomination papers shall not be approved. In no case may a correction be made to change the office for which such candidate is nominated.  There shall not be printed on the ballot at a city or town primary the name of any person as a candidate for nomination for any office to be filled at a city or town election unless such person has been an enrolled member of the political party whose nomination he seeks throughout the ninety days prior to the last day for submitting primary nomination papers to the registrars of voters prior to said primary, or is a newly registered voter of the city or town enrolled in the political party.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 62 - Death, Withdrawal, or Ineligibility of Candidates; Filling Vacancies

Section 62. If a person nominated to be voted for at a city or town primary dies before the day of the primary, or withdraws his name from nomination, or is found ineligible, and there is no other candidate for the party nomination for the office, the vacancy may be filled by vote of the town committee in a town, by vote of the city committee if it occurs for an office to be filled by all the voters of a city, or by vote of the ward committee if it occurs for an office to be filled by the voters of a ward. In cases of vacancies caused by withdrawal, nominations to fill such vacancies shall be filed with the town clerk within twenty-four week-day hours, by a certificate signed by the chairman and secretary of said committee, or if the vacancy occurs in a city, with the city clerk within forty-eight week-day hours, by a similar certificate, signed by the chairman and secretary of the city committee or of the ward committee, as the case may be. No vacancy caused by withdrawal shall be filled before the withdrawal has been filed. If there is a failure to make a nomination at a city or town primary by reason of a tie vote, the vacancy, if in respect to an office to be filled by all the voters of the city or town, shall be filled by vote of the city or town committee and, if in respect to an office to be filled by the voters of a ward, by vote of the ward committee; provided, that any such vacancy shall be filled only by the choice of one of the candidates receiving the tie vote.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 63 - Polls; Hours

Section 63. The polls at every such primary shall be open during such hours, not less than nine in cities nor four in towns, as may be designated by the aldermen or selectmen.
MA Gen L ch 53 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 53 - Nominations, Questions to Be Submitted to the Voters, Primaries and Caucuses|Section 64 - Returns of Votes; Canvass and Certification

Section 64. City and town clerks shall canvass the returns of votes, determine the results, and issue proper certificates thereof to the successful candidates.