reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 54 § 70 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 70 - Number of Voters Permitted Within Guard Rail; Voters in Line at Closing Time

Section 70. No more than four voters, besides election officers and supervisors, custodians of voting machines when acting in the course of their duties, and the city or town clerk, in excess of the number of marking compartments provided, shall be allowed at one time within the guard rail. Where voting machines are used, the number of voters allowed within the guard rail shall not be more than twice the number of voting machines provided. After the time fixed for closing the polls, no voters shall be admitted within the guard rail, except the election officers and supervisors, and except voters who are then in the polling place or in line at the door thereof. The presiding officer of the polling place shall provide or cause to be provided to each voter so outside the guard rail a card or slip bearing such voter's name, and the voter shall as soon as practicable present the same to one of the ballot clerks and shall then be permitted to vote if otherwise qualified. When the polls are closed, the presiding officer shall cause a police officer or other qualified person to be stationed at the end of the line of persons waiting to vote to see that no other persons vote than those who were in the polling place or in line at the door at the time fixed for closing the polls. After the last voter in line at the door has entered within the guard rail, the voters shall be allowed five minutes in which to cast their votes.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 71 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 71 - Presiding Officers; Powers and Duties

Section 71. The presiding officer at each polling place shall enforce the performance by election officers of their duties. During an election and the counting of the ballots after the close of the polls, he shall have authority to maintain order and to enforce obedience to his lawful commands, in and about the polling place and to keep the access thereto open and unobstructed, and he may require any police officer, constable or other person to communicate his orders and directions and assist in their enforcement.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 71a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 71a - Supervision of Election Officers in Cities and Towns

Section 71A. Election officers in cities and in towns shall perform their duties under the supervision of the city or town clerk.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 72 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 72 - Preservation of Order by Police

Section 72. The board or officer in charge of the police force of each city and town shall detail a sufficient number of police officers or constables for each building that contains the polling place for one or more precincts at every election therein to preserve order and to protect the election officers and supervisors from any interference with their duties and to aid in enforcing the laws relating to elections; provided, however, that this section may apply to section 25B at the discretion of the election officers and registrars for a city or town.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 73 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 73 - Smoking or Intoxicating Liquors in Polling Places Prohibited; Penalties

Section 73. Any person who, during an election or town meeting, shall, in a polling place or place of such meeting, smoke or have in his possession a lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette, or carry into any such place or keep therein any intoxicating liquor, shall be deemed guilty of disorderly conduct; and the presiding officer shall order him to remove such pipe, cigar, cigarette or liquor, or to withdraw from such place, and for disobedience of such order shall cause him to be removed from such polling place or meeting.  Whoever, when so ordered by the presiding officer of an election, caucus, primary or town meeting, refuses or fails to remove any pipe, cigar, cigarette or liquor, or to withdraw from the polling place, as provided by this section, shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 74 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 74 - Detention of Offenders; Effect on Right to Vote

Section 74. If a person at an election refuses to obey the lawful commands of the presiding officer or, by disorderly conduct interrupts or disturbs the proceedings of an election officer, the presiding officer may require any police officer, constable or other person to take him into custody and detain him until after the election; but the presiding officer may at any time order his release. Such order of detention shall not be so enforced as to prevent such person, if a voter at that polling place, from voting.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 75 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 75 - Report of Violations; Prosecutions

Section 75. Every election officer shall forthwith report every violation of any provision of sections sixty-five to eighty-five and one hundred and four to one hundred and thirty-seven, both inclusive, to the police officer or constable in attendance at the polling place, and such police officer or constable shall cause the offender to be prosecuted.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 76 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 76 - Voting; Giving Name and Address Upon Request; Delivery of Ballot

Section 76. Each voter desiring to vote at a polling place shall give his name and, if requested, his residence to one of the officers at the entrance to the space within the guard rail, who shall thereupon distinctly announce the same. If such name is found on the voting list, the election officer shall check and repeat the name and shall admit the voter to the space enclosed by the guard rail and, in case official ballots, other than those marked ''Challenged Ballots'' as provided by section thirty-five A, are used, such voter shall be given one ballot. The use of electronic means such as tape recording equipment or radio broadcasting equipment for the recording or broadcasting of the names of voters not yet checked as having voted shall be prohibited.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 76b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 76b - Failure to Present Voter Identification; Right to Challenge Vote

Section 76B. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person desiring to vote, who fails to present suitable written identification when so requested by an election officer, shall be permitted to vote, but that person's right to vote may be challenged under section 85.  (b)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), a person asserting a right to vote in an election for federal office shall present identification under paragraph (2) if:  (a) the person registered to vote in the city or town by mail after January 1, 2003; and  (b) the person has not previously voted in an election for federal office in the commonwealth.  (2)(A) A person meets the requirements of this paragraph if the person:  (a) in the case of a person who votes in person:  (i) presents to the appropriate election officer a current and valid photo identification; or  (ii) presents to the appropriate election officer a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter; or  (b) in the case of a person who votes by absentee ballot, submits with the ballot:  (i) a copy of a current and valid photo identification; or  (ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter.  (B)(i) A person who desires to vote in person but does not satisfy clause (a) of subparagraph (A) may cast a provisional ballot under section 76C.  (ii) A person who desires to vote by absentee ballot but who does not meet the requirements of subclause (ii) of said clause (a) of said subparagraph (A) may return the absentee ballot by mail, and the ballot shall be treated as a provisional ballot under section 76C.  (3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a person:  (a) who registers to vote by mail and submits as part of that registration either:  (i) a copy of a current and valid photo identification; or  (ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows the name and address of the voter;  (b) who registers to vote by mail and submits with that registration either:  (i) a driver's license number;  (ii) at least the last 4 digits of the individual's social security number; and  (iii) with respect to whom the city or town clerk matches the information submitted under clause (i) with an existing state identification record bearing the same number, name and date of birth as provided in that registration; or  (c) who:  (i) is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 1973ff–1 et seq.;  (ii) is provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, 42 U.S.C. section 1973ee–1(b)(2); or  (iii) is otherwise entitled by federal law to vote otherwise than in person.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 77 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 77 - Marking Ballots

Section 77. The voter on receiving his ballot shall, without leaving the enclosed space, retire alone to one of the marking compartments and shall, except in the case of voting for presidential electors or groups of candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, and except as provided in section thirty-three E, prepare his ballot by marking a cross (X) in the square at the right of the name of each candidate for whom he intends to vote or by inserting the name and residence of such candidate in the space provided therefor; and, upon a question submitted to the vote of the people, by making a cross in the square at the right of the answer which he intends to give.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 78 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 78 - Voting for Presidential Electors, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor; Marking Ballots

Section 78. In order to vote for presidential electors, the voter shall make a cross (X) in the square at the right of the party or political designation appearing on the ballot at the right of the surnames of the candidates for president and vice president, to vote for whom such candidates for electors are nominated; and the making of a cross as aforesaid shall be deemed and taken as a vote for such candidates for presidential electors, except as provided in section thirty-three E. A vote by sticker or write-in in the blank space at the end of the list of names of presidential and vice presidential candidates may be cast for those candidates whose names are contained in lists filed with the state secretary under the provisions of section seventy-eight A and shall be deemed to be a vote for each of the candidates for presidential elector whose names are contained in the appropriate list so filed; provided, however, that in such case the voter shall list only the surnames of the candidates for president and vice president. In order to vote for governor and lieutenant governor, the voter shall mark a cross (X) in the square at the right of the names of the group of candidates for said offices for whom he desires to vote, or by inserting the name and residence of any person for either office in the blank space provided therefor; provided, however, that no such inserted name may be that of a candidate whose name is printed upon the ballot as a candidate for the office.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 78a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 78a - List of Candidates for Electors Pledged to Presidential Candidates Other Than Those on Official Ballot; Written Acceptances; Filing; Certification; Form of Write-in or Sticker Vote

Section 78A. In any year in which presidential electors are to be elected, not later than the sixtieth day prior to the date of the election, there may be filed with the secretary of the commonwealth, in a form to be prescribed by him, a list of names and addresses of candidates for such electors, containing the names and addresses of a candidate for president and for vice president to whom such electors shall be pledged in writing. Said list shall contain the written acceptance of each candidate for presidential elector, who shall be a voter of the commonwealth, and the written acceptance of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, who shall be candidates other than those whose names are to be printed upon the official ballot. Said secretary shall certify to all city and town clerks and election commissioners the names of the candidates designated by any such list for the offices of president and vice president and the form of write-in or sticker vote for such candidate which will be deemed acceptable under the provisions of section seventy-eight.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 79 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 79 - Assistance in Marking Ballots

Section 79. A voter who states to the presiding officer that from blindness or other physical disability or inability to read or to read in the English language he is unable to prepare his ballot or register his vote upon a voting machine shall be assisted in such marking or registering by any person whom he may designate.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 80 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 80 - Prohibited Markings; Use of Red Pencils or Red Ink by Election Officers

Section 80. Except as authorized by this chapter, no voter, election officer or other person shall place on a ballot any mark by which it may be identified; nor shall any person place a mark against any name upon a ballot not cast by himself; nor shall any election officer engaged in counting ballots, except the election officer or officers actually entering the count of ballots cast on tally sheets, hold in either hand during the counting of ballots a pen, pencil or other marking device. Election officers shall use only red pencils or red ink in recording or tabulating the vote in election precincts.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 81 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 81 - Spoiled Ballots

Section 81. If a voter spoils a ballot, he may obtain two others, one at a time, upon returning each spoiled one, and all ballots so returned shall immediately be marked by an election officer ''Spoiled''.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 82 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 82 - Folding Ballots; Time for Marking Ballots

Section 82. Before leaving the marking compartment the voter shall fold his ballot, without displaying the marks thereon, as it was folded when received by him, and shall keep it so folded until he has voted. A voter shall mark and deposit his ballot without undue delay, shall leave the space enclosed by the guard rail as soon as he has voted, and shall not remain within the guard rail more than ten minutes. No voter shall occupy a voting compartment more than five minutes, if all the marking compartments are in use and other voters are waiting to occupy the same, nor shall he occupy a marking compartment occupied by another, except as provided in section seventy-nine.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 83 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 83 - Deposit of Ballots, Voting List Check, Endorsement

[ Section 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 to 3 effective March 16, 2021; 2020, 92 Secs. 15 to 17 effective June 5, 2020; 2020, 115, Secs. 6 and 13, effective July 6, 2020; and 2020, 255, effective December 31, 2020 as amended by 2021, 5, Secs. 4 to 8, effective March 16, 2021 and 2021, 29, Secs. 51 to 55, effective July 29, 2021, relating to elections in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]  Section 83. Except where voting machines are used, a voter after marking his ballot shall give his name and, if requested, his residence, to one of the officers in charge of the ballot box who shall distinctly announce the same. If the name is found on the voting list by the election officer, he shall distinctly repeat the name and check it on the voting list; and the voter may then deposit his ballot in the ballot box with the official endorsement uppermost and in sight. No ballot without the official endorsement, except as provided in section sixty-one, shall be deposited in the ballot box.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 84 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 84 - Removal of Ballots Before Close of Polls

Section 84. No person shall remove any ballot from the space enclosed by the guard rail before the polls are closed. No voter whose name has been checked on the voting list in charge of the ballot clerk, other than an election officer or supervisor, shall again enter such enclosed space during the election.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 85 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 85 - Challenge of Person's Right to Vote, Procedures

Section 85. If in any state, city or town election at which official ballots are used the right of a person offering to vote is challenged for any legal cause, the presiding officer shall administer to him the following oath:  You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that you are the identical person whom you represent yourself to be, that you are registered in this precinct (or town) and that you have not voted at this election.  He shall also be required to write his name and residence on the outside of the ballot offered, and the presiding officer shall add thereto the name of the person challenging, and the cause assigned therefor, whereupon such ballot shall be received; and no person shall make any statement or give any information in regard thereto, except as required by law. The clerk shall record the name and residence of every person who has been challenged and has voted.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 85a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 85a - Challengers

Section 85A. The state committee of a political party may appoint a person to act as a challenger of voters at any polling place in the commonwealth at a state election, and a city or town committee of such a party, in a city or town in which municipal officers are nominated by primaries or by caucuses of political parties, may appoint a person to act as such challenger at any polling place in such city or town at a municipal election. Such challenger may challenge any voter during the hours that said polling place is open for the purpose of voting; and a statement signed by the chairman of the committee appointing him shall be sufficient evidence of his right so to act. He may be compensated for his services by the political party whose committee appointed him. He shall be assigned by the election officer presiding at the polling place to such position within the polling place as will enable him to see and hear each voter as he offers to vote. Nothing herein contained shall deprive any other person of the right to challenge a voter as provided by law.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 86 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 86 - Absent or Physically Disabled Voters

Section 86. Any voter who during the hours that polling places are open on the day of a special state election or the biennial state election or of any special or regular state primary or of a presidential primary is absent from the city or town where he is a voter by reason of being a specially qualified voter as defined in section one of chapter fifty, or his employment in another community, attendance at any institution of higher education or for any other reason or who will be unable to by reason of physical disability to cast his vote in person at the polling place or who for reasons of religious belief will be unable to cast his vote in person on the day of an election and whose application for an official absent voting ballot has been filed with the city or town clerk as provided in section eighty-nine, and certified under section ninety-one, may vote in accordance with sections eighty-seven to one hundred and three, inclusive. A voter who will be unable by reason of permanent physical disability to cast his vote in person at the polling place may file once with the city or town clerk a certificate executed by a registered physician who is personally acquainted with the voter and aware of his permanent physical disability, stating that it is reasonably certain because of permanent physical disability that the voter will be unable to cast his vote in person at the polling place on the day of the election. The city or town clerk shall maintain a list of such permanently disabled voters and such voters shall not be required to file any such certification thereafter with their applications for an absent voting ballot. Not later than twenty-eight days before every primary, preliminary election or election, the city or town clerk shall send to each voter whose name appears on the permanently disabled voters' list an application for an absent voting ballot, which application said clerk shall complete so far as possible except for the voter's signature.
MA Gen L ch 54 § 87 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 54 - Elections|Section 87 - Preparation of Absent Voting Ballots, Envelopes, Instructions

Section 87. Prior to each biennial state election the state secretary shall prepare in such quantities as he may deem necessary the following papers:  (a) Official absent voting ballots, similar in all respects to the official ballot to be used at such election, except that they shall be printed on paper differing in color from that used for official or specimen ballots.  [There is no subsection (b).]  (c) Envelopes of sufficient size to contain the ballots specified in subsection (a) bearing on their reverse the voter's affidavit of compliance with the requirements of section ninety-two.  (d) Envelopes of size sufficient to contain the envelope identified in subsection (c), addressed to the clerks of the several cities and towns within the commonwealth, upon which shall be printed blank spaces for the name, address and voting place of the sender, which shall be filled in by the city or town clerk prior to the mailing of such envelopes.  The state secretary shall furnish such explanatory matter and instructions as he may deem appropriate to carry into effect the purposes of sections eighty-six to one hundred and three, inclusive.