reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 56 § 33 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 33 - Employers; Influencing Votes of Employees; Penalties

Section 33. No person shall, by threatening to discharge a person from his employment, or threatening to reduce his wages, or otherwise threatening to adversely affect the terms and conditions of his employment, or promising to give him employment at higher wages, or otherwise promising to favorably affect the terms and conditions of his employment, attempt to influence a voter to give or to withhold his vote or political contribution. No person shall, because of the giving or withholding of a vote or a political contribution, discharge a person from his employment, reduce his wages or otherwise adversely affect the terms and conditions of his employment or give him employment at higher wages or otherwise favorably affect the terms and conditions of his employment.  Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than six months or both.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 34 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 34 - Promising Public Appointments

Section 34. No person shall, to aid or promote his nomination or election to a public office, directly or indirectly promise to appoint or to secure or assist in securing the appointment, nomination or election of another person to a public position or employment or to a position of honor, trust or emolument, except that he may announce or define what is his choice or purpose in relation to an election in which he may be called to take part, if elected.  Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 35 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 35 - Promising Public Appointments for Political Action

Section 35. No person holding a public office or in nomination for, or seeking a nomination for, or appointment to, an office, shall corruptly use or promise to use, directly or indirectly, any official authority or influence to confer upon any person, or to aid a person to obtain, an office or public employment, or a nomination, confirmation, promotion or increase of salary, upon the consideration or condition that the vote, political influence or action of any person shall be given or used in behalf of a candidate, officer or party, or upon any other corrupt condition or consideration.  Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 36 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 36 - Public Officers and Employees; Influencing Political Action

Section 36. No person in the service of the commonwealth or of any county, city or town shall use his official authority or influence to coerce the political action of any person or body, or to interfere with any election.  Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 37 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 37 - Public Officers and Employees; Initiative and Referendum; Promotion or Opposition for Hire

Section 37. No member of the general court or paid officer or employee of the commonwealth shall promote or oppose, for a valuable consideration other than reimbursement for expenses actually incurred, the acceptance by the voters of any political subdivision of the commonwealth of any law conditioned to take effect therein upon such acceptance, or of any law or proposed law or constitutional amendment submitted under Article XLVIII of the amendments to the constitution, or an expression of opinion by the voters on any question of public policy.  Any person taking or giving employment in violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 38 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 38 - Editorial Support; Payment for or Receipt of Payment

Section 38. No person shall pay the owner, editor, publisher, or agent of a newspaper or other periodical to induce him editorially to advocate or oppose any candidate for public office or political principle, or any question submitted to the voters; and no such owner, editor, publisher, or agent shall accept such payment. This section shall not apply to the outright purchase of such newspaper or periodical.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 39 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 39 - Publishing Political Advertisements; Statement; Names; Signatures

Section 39. No person shall publish or cause to be published in a newspaper or other periodical any paid advertisement designed or tending to aid, injure, or defeat any candidate for public office or any question submitted to the voters, unless the name of the chairman or secretary or the names of two officers of the political or other organization inserting the same, or the name of one or more persons eighteen years of age or older who are responsible therefor, with the residence and the street and number thereof, of each such person eighteen years of age or older appears therein in the nature of a signature; provided, that each such person eighteen years of age or older has signed his name in the presence of a witness to the following statement authorizing the insertion of such advertisement. The statement shall be retained by the newspaper or periodical for not less than one year, shall be available to any person upon request, and shall be in substantially the following form:  I hereby authorize the affixing of my name to the attached political advertisement on behalf of or in opposition to , candidate for in the election to be held in the current year, or on behalf of or in opposition to a question being submitted to the voters in the election in the current year.  Witness:Signature: Address:Address:  Date:  Such matter inserted in reading columns shall be preceded or followed by the word ''Advertisement'' in a separate line, in type not smaller than that of the body type of the newspaper or other periodical. This section shall not authorize expenditures otherwise prohibited by this chapter.  Any corporation violating any provision of this section or section thirty-eight, relative to payments to newspapers and periodicals, and to political advertising, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, and any officer, director or agent of a corporation violating any such provision, who authorized such violation, or any person who violates, or in any way knowingly aids or abets the violation of, any such provision, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 40 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 40 - Using Names of Political Parties; Restrictions

Section 40. No organization consisting of two or more persons, other than a political committee duly elected in accordance with law or a corporation organized prior to January first, nineteen hundred and twenty-three, under the laws of this commonwealth and having as a part of its name the name of a political party, as defined by law, shall, in order to promote the success or defeat of a political party or principle or of a candidate in a public election, in any circular, advertisement or publication use in its organization name the name of such a political party, except with the written consent of the duly elected state committee representing such political party.  Any member of an organization subject to this section who participates in a violation of any provision of said section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 41a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 41a - Unauthorized Use of Endorsements

Section 41A. No person shall, in order to promote his success or the success of another as a candidate for nomination or election to any public office, or in connection with any question submitted to the voters, include or cause to be included in any political advertisement, circular, poster or publication, the name of any person as an endorser or supporter except with the express consent of such person. Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 42 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 42 - False Statements Relating to Candidates or Questions Submitted to Voters

Section 42. No person shall make or publish, or cause to be made or published, any false statement in relation to any candidate for nomination or election to public office, which is designed or tends to aid or to injure or defeat such candidate.  No person shall publish or cause to be published in any letter, circular, advertisement, poster or in any other writing any false statement in relation to any question submitted to the voters, which statement is designed to affect the vote on said question.  Whoever knowingly violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 43 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 43 - Interference With Distribution of Printed Matter

Section 43. No person shall prevent, hinder or interfere with the lawful distribution of any circular, poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or other printed matter intended to influence the action of a voter, and no person shall, wilfully and with intent to injure the person in whose behalf such printed matter was distributed, remove such matter from any residential premises to which it was delivered.  Violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 43a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 43a - Use of Word ''veteran'' by Candidates

Section 43A. No person, except a veteran, as defined by section one of chapter thirty-one, who is a candidate for nomination or election to any public office shall use the word ''veteran'' as applied to himself, in any circular, poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or other printed matter unless the word ''veteran'' is accompanied by other words indicating the country for which he served. Any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 44 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 44 - Lists of Candidates Without Party Designations; Distribution

Section 44. No individual, except as otherwise provided by law, and no non-elected political committee, shall distribute by mail, or otherwise or directly or indirectly cause to be distributed by mail or otherwise, a list or slate containing names of candidates for state office of more than one political party to be nominated at state primaries or to be elected at a biennial state election, unless against the name of each candidate on such list or slate appears his political party designation.  Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 44a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 44a - Lists of Candidates; Distribution; Signatures of Responsible Voters

Section 44A. No person shall distribute by mail or otherwise, or directly or indirectly cause to be distributed by mail or otherwise, a list or slate containing names of candidates for state office to be nominated at state primaries or to be elected at a biennial state election, unless the name of some voter who is responsible therefor, with his residence and the street and number thereof, if any, appears therein in the nature of a signature. Violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 45 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 45 - Naturalization Fees; Payment or Promise of Payment

Section 45. No political committee and no person required to file a statement shall make any payment or promise of payment of money to or in behalf of any person for naturalization fees or for services as counsel or otherwise in assisting any one to obtain naturalization.  Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 46 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 46 - Disorderly Conduct at Polling Places

Section 46. Whoever, at a primary, caucus or election, behaves in a disorderly manner, and, after notice from the presiding officer or director of the count, persists in such behavior and refuses to withdraw from the polling place, or from the central counting place, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one month.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 47 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 47 - Disobeying Election, Caucus or Primary Officers

Section 47. Whoever wilfully disobeys any lawful command of an election, caucus or primary officer shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one month.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 48 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 48 - Interfering With Election Officials

Section 48. Whoever interferes, or aids or abets any person in interfering, with an election commissioner, city or town clerk, election officer, or director of the count or assistant appointed under section six of chapter fifty-four A, in the performance of his duties shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 49 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 49 - Obstructing Transmission of Ballots or Returns

Section 49. Whoever wilfully obstructs or interferes with the transmission of ballots or returns to or from a polling place or a central counting place shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 50 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 50 - Alteration or Removal of Ballots

Section 50. Whoever alters a ballot cast at a primary or caucus or, not being authorized thereto, deposits a ballot in a ballot box, container or envelope used at a primary or caucus, or removes a ballot from such ballot box, container or envelope, shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for not more than two and one half years.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 51 - Tampering With Voting Machines

Section 51. Any person who shall tamper with or injure or attempt to tamper with or to injure any voting machine to be used or being used in an election, or who shall prevent or attempt to prevent the correct operation of such machine, or any unauthorized person who shall make or have in his possession a key to a voting machine to be used or being used in an election, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than two and one half years or in the state prison for not less than two and one half nor more than five years, or both.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 52 - Forgery, Destruction or Defacement of Ballots

Section 52. Whoever wilfully forges or falsely makes the official endorsement on any ballot, or wilfully destroys or defaces a ballot, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 53 - Distinguishing Marks on Ballots

Section 53. Whoever places a mark against a name on a ballot not cast by himself, or places a distinguishing mark on a ballot not cast by himself, except as authorized by law, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two and one half years.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 54 - Removing Ballots From Within Guard Rail

Section 54. Whoever removes a ballot from the space enclosed by the guard rail before the close of the polls shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 55 - Fraudulent Alteration or Removal of Ballots

Section 55. Whoever, with intent to defraud, alters a ballot cast at a primary, caucus or election; or, with such intent, deposits a ballot in the ballot box used at a primary, caucus or election, or in an envelope or container provided by law for the preservation of ballots cast at a primary, caucus or election; or, with such intent, removes a ballot from any such ballot box or envelope or container; shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two and one half years.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 56 - Challenged Ballots; Giving Information About Vote

Section 56. Whoever gives any information derived from a recount of votes, relative to a ballot cast by a challenged voter at an election, caucus or primary, except as required by law, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 57 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 57 - Arrest Without Warrant

Section 57. Police officers and constables shall arrest without a warrant any person detected in the act of violating any provision of chapters fifty to fifty-six, inclusive.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 58 - Prosecutions; Trial and Judgments; Motions for Other Dispositions

Section 58. A prosecution for the violation of any provision of chapters fifty to fifty-six, inclusive, shall not, unless the purposes of justice require such disposition, be placed on file or disposed of except by trial and judgment according to the regular course of criminal proceedings. It shall be disposed of otherwise only upon written motion stating specifically the reasons therefor and verified by affidavit if facts are relied on. If the court or magistrate certifies in writing that he is satisfied that the cause relied on exists and that the interests of public justice require the allowance of the motion, the motion shall be allowed and the certificate of the court or magistrate shall be filed in the case. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to permit the suspension of the execution of the sentence of a person convicted of a violation of any provision of section twenty-six or twenty-eight of chapter fifty-six.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 59 - Supreme Judicial Court; Superior Court Departments; Jurisdiction

Section 59. The supreme judicial court and the superior court department of the trial court shall have jurisdiction of civil actions to enforce the provisions of chapters fifty to fifty-six, inclusive, and may award relief formerly available in equity or by mandamus. The supreme judicial court shall also have jurisdiction of any civil action relative to the division of the commonwealth into congressional, councillor, senatorial, and representative districts in chapter fifty-seven, but every such action shall be filed within thirty days after the act establishing such districts has the force of a law.
MA Gen L ch 56 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws|Section 60 - Conduct Contrary to Election Laws; Remedies

Section 60. Whenever the state secretary determines, after consulting with the local official involved, that a pattern of conduct, or a standard, practice, or procedure of a city or town clerk, board of registrars of voters, or any other municipal or district officer or board upon whom a duty is imposed is contrary to chapters fifty to fifty-four, inclusive, or any other general or special law concerning administration of elections, he may order such local official to comply with law. The attorney general may enforce the order by civil action. The state secretary may adopt procedural regulations governing administrative proceedings under this section. The remedy provided by this section shall not in any way limit the availability of judicial remedies to any person, official, commission or board.