reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 31 - Immunity of Witnesses

Section 31. No person compelled to testify in any proceedings under section thirty shall be liable to criminal prosecution for any matters or causes in respect of which he shall be examined or to which his testimony shall relate, except to prosecution for perjury committed in such testimony.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 32 - Corrupt Practices by Candidate Defined

Section 32. A candidate shall be deemed to have committed a corrupt practice who commits any of the following offences:
Making or permitting any person or non-elected political committee authorized by him to make a false return in any statement filed under sections eighteen, nineteen and twenty-four by him or on his behalf.
Making a false return in any statement filed under sections eighteen and twenty-four by a candidate for nomination or election.
Any candidate fraudulently and wilfully obstructing and delaying a voter, interfering with, hindering or preventing an election officer from performing his duties, forging an endorsement upon, altering, destroying or defacing a ballot, tampering with or injuring or attempting to injure any voting machine or ballot box to be used or being used in a primary or election, or preventing or attempting to prevent the correct operation of such machine or box.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 34 - Application of Preceding Sections

Section 34. Sections one to thirty-three, inclusive, shall apply to all public elections and to elections by the general court and by city councils and by either branch thereof, and, so far as applicable, to the nomination by primaries, caucuses, conventions and nomination papers of candidates to be voted for at such elections. The term ''political committee'' as defined in section one shall not apply to the proprietors and publishers of publications issued at regular intervals, in respect to the ordinary conduct of their business, nor shall they, in respect thereto, be subject to sections two to six, inclusive, of this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 35 - Inquests Upon Complaint for Violations

Section 35. Upon a complaint subscribed and sworn to by any person before a district court, alleging that reasonable grounds exist for believing that any law relating to the qualification or registration of voters, or to voting lists or ballots, or to primaries, caucuses, conventions and elections, or to any matters pertaining thereto, has been violated, such court may at once hold an inquest to inquire into such alleged violation of law.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 36 - Conduct of Inquests

Section 36. The court may exclude all persons whose presence is not necessary at such inquest; and may also direct the witnesses to be kept so separated that they cannot converse with each other until they have been examined. The attorney general, the district attorney, or some person designated by either, shall attend the inquest and examine the witnesses.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 37 - Witnesses; Attendance; Process; Fees

Section 37. Such court or attorney may issue subpoenas for witnesses, who shall be allowed the same fees, whose attendance may be enforced in the same manner, and who shall be subject to the same penalties, as if served with a subpoena in behalf of the commonwealth in a criminal prosecution before such court.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 38 - Stenographer

Section 38. Such court may employ a stenographer and may have the proceedings reduced to writing; and, if he finds that the law has been violated, shall report to the superior court all the material facts and the names of any persons guilty of any such violation.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 40 - Apprehension of Offenders

Section 40. If a person charged by the report with the commission of an offence is not in custody, the court shall forthwith issue a process for his apprehension; but such process may issue before the filing of said report, if otherwise lawful.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 41 - Witnesses; Compulsory Testimony; Immunity

Section 41. No person shall be excused from testifying or producing any papers in any inquest proceedings under sections thirty-five to forty, inclusive, on the ground that his testimony may tend to criminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture, but he shall not be prosecuted or be subjected to a penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any action, matter or thing concerning which he may be required so to testify, except for perjury committed in such testimony.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions › Section 42 - Forwarding Certified Copy of Record of Final Judgment or Conviction to City or Town Clerk; Disqualification of Defendant as Voter

Section 42. The director in proceedings based upon an election petition, as provided in section thirty-three, and the clerk of the court wherein a person is convicted of a violation of any provision of law relating to corrupt practices in elections, shall, within ten days after final judgment on such election petition or conviction, forward to the clerk of the city or town where the defendant resides a certified copy of the record of the final judgment or conviction, and the name of such person shall forthwith be stricken from the roll of registered voters of the city or town for a period of three years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 1 - Establishment and Membership of Commission

Section 1. There shall be a state ballot law commission consisting of five persons to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a retired justice of the supreme judicial court, appeals court, superior court or district courts of the commonwealth who shall be chairman. The chairman shall serve for a term of one year from February first of the year in which he was appointed and may be reappointed for further terms. The other members of said commission shall serve for terms of two years from February first of the year in which they were appointed and may be reappointed for further terms.
No more than three members of the commission shall be members of the same political party.
Vacancies occurring during the term of any member shall be filled for the unexpired term by the governor within sixty days of the occurrence of said vacancy. The governor may remove any member of the commission.
The state secretary shall serve as the secretary of the commission.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 2 - Members Holding or Nominated for Public Office

Section 2. No member of said commission shall hold any public office except that of justice of the peace, notary public, or be a candidate for public office, or member or employee of any political committee. If any member of the commission shall be nominated as a candidate for public office and shall not in writing decline said nomination within three days, he shall be deemed to have vacated his office as a member of said commission.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 3 - Compensation; Record of Proceedings; Clerical Assistance

Section 3. The members of the commission shall each be paid such compensation for their services not exceeding five thousand dollars annually, as the governor may determine, and shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The chairman of the commission shall cause the proceedings thereof to be recorded by a competent stenographer, which may include tape recording, and for such purpose and other necessary expenditures of the commission for clerical assistance may expend such sums as may be appropriated therefor.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 4 - Powers and Duties of Commission

Section 4. The commission may investigate upon objection made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter the legality, validity, completeness and accuracy of all nomination papers and actions required by law to give candidates access to a state ballot or to place an initiative or referendum on a state ballot.
The commission shall have jurisdiction over and render a decision on any matter referred to it, pertaining to the statutory and constitutional qualifications of any nominee for state, national or county office; the certificates of nomination or nomination papers filed in any presidential or state primary, state election, or special state primary or election, the withdrawal of nomination for any state, county, or federal office after the time to do so has expired or any ineffective withdrawal; the filing of nomination papers under a false name, or fictitious nominees; and the fraudulent or forged signing of statewide initiative or referendum petitions, or any other objection relating to the signatures on such petitions. The commission shall have no jurisdiction with respect to public policy questions, nor city or town candidates and ballot questions.
The commission may summon witnesses, administer oaths, and require the production of books, records and papers at a hearing before it upon any matter within its jurisdiction.
Witnesses shall be summoned in the same manner, be paid the same fees, and be subject to the same penalties as witnesses in civil cases before the courts. Any member may sign a summons or administer an oath. In the event that said commission fails to render its decision within the time required in this chapter on any matter so referred, the state secretary shall, notwithstanding such failure, proceed forthwith to cause to be printed the ballots for such primaries or elections. Petitions for judicial review of decisions of the commission, under the provisions of chapter thirty A, shall be filed in the court within five days after receipt of the notice of the final decision of said commission. The commission shall establish rules of procedure in conformance with the provisions of chapter thirty A governing the conduct of hearings and investigations which shall be made available in printed form to each party prior to appearance or testimony before the commission.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 6 - Signatures; Review; Correction

Section 6. This section applies only to candidates for president who file nomination papers to be placed on the ballot at presidential primaries, and to all candidates at regular state primaries and biennial state elections. Any candidate who has filed nomination papers with the local registrars and who has an insufficient number of certified signatures for nomination to the office sought, or, any candidate who has enough signatures certified for nomination but only has ten per cent or less certified signatures in excess of the number needed for nomination may request a review of the signatures he filed by making written application to the registrars. Said application shall list the signatures not previously certified by the registrars on which the candidate is requesting a review. Local registrars, upon receipt of any such written request shall review the signatures appealed by the candidate and correct any errors or mistakes in certification. Review and corrections shall be completed no later than twenty-four hours before the final hour for filing said papers with the state secretary. Candidates may request only one review. Said application shall be submitted to the registrars no later than forty-eight hours after the last day for the registrars to certify nomination papers.
Local registrars shall be responsible for defending their actions with respect to original certification, reviews and corrections. A candidate who has a deficient number of signatures or who still has ten per cent or less signatures in excess of the number needed for nomination, after completion of the review process, and who has filed his papers with the state secretary by five o'clock post meridian of the last day for filing such nomination papers may appeal from the decision of the local registrar to the superior court of the county in which the candidate is a resident; provided, however, that if such superior court is not holding a civil session the superior court of Suffolk county. Such appeal shall be in the form of a civil action and shall be filed within seventy-two hours of the last day and time for filing nomination papers with the state secretary.
The commission shall not have jurisdiction over any appeal brought under this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 8 - Notice of Objections

Section 8. The commission with respect to objections to certificates of nominations or nomination papers except those for a special primary or election shall by five o'clock post meridian of the Wednesday following the last day for filing such objections notify all parties involved that objection has been made to their certificates of nomination or nomination papers.
The commission with respect to objections to signatures or initiative or referendum petitions shall by five o'clock post meridian of the Wednesday following the last day for such objections notify all parties involved that objection has been made to their initiative or referendum petition.
The commission with respect to objections to supplemental signatures necessary to place an initiative petition on the ballot after rejection by the legislature shall by five o'clock post meridian of the Friday following the last day for filing such objections notify all parties involved that objection has been made to their additional signatures.
The commission with respect to objections to nominations at state primaries, except special primaries shall by five o'clock post meridian of the Tuesday following the last day for filing such objections notify all candidates affected thereby that objection has been made to their nomination.
Notification shall be by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. All notifications shall contain in detail the objections made, as well as the date, time, and the location of said hearing. Notifications shall be addressed to the residences as given in the certificates of nomination, nomination papers, and to the initial ten signers of a petition as the case may be. In addition, such notification shall also contain the rules or procedure that will be used in conducting said hearings.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 9 - Hearings on Objections

Section 9. Hearings on objections to certificates of nomination or nomination papers, except for special primaries and elections, shall not be held prior to the second Monday following the Friday for filing such objections.
Hearings on objections to signatures on initiative or referendum petitions shall not be held prior to the second Monday following the last day for filing such objections.
Hearings on objections to supplemental signature filings for initiative petitions shall not be held prior to the first Wednesday following the last day for filing such objections.
Hearings on objections to nominations at regular state primaries shall not be held prior to the Monday following the last day for filing such objections.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 10 - Decisions

Section 10. The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it, pertaining to certificates of nomination or nomination papers for any presidential or biennial state primaries or any biennial state election or to withdrawals of nomination therefore, not later than five o'clock post meridian on the twenty-first day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such certificates or papers or for filing such withdrawals, as the case may be, under the provisions of this chapter. The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it pertaining to nominations made at biennial state primaries, not later than five o'clock post meridian on the fourteenth day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such nominations.
The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it, pertaining to objections that signatures appearing on an initiative or referendum petition have been forged or placed thereon by fraud and that in consequence thereof the petition has not been signed by a sufficient number of qualified voters actually supporting such petition, as required by the constitution, no later than the twenty-first day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such signatures. The commission shall render a decision on any objection filed with respect to the supplemental filing of signatures for initiative petition to be placed on the ballot after the rejection by the legislature of such petition no later than five o'clock post meridian in the afternoon on the fourteenth day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such signatures.
The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it pertaining to certificates of nomination or nomination papers for any special state primary or special state election not later than five o'clock post meridian in the afternoon on the fourth day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such certificates or papers.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 11 - Vacating Nominations; Nonexisting Persons; False Names

Section 11. If objection is filed under section five or section seven by a person duly nominated for any state, city or town office alleging that an apparent nomination for the same office is a fictitious or nonexisting person or that the name under which a person has been apparently nominated for such office is not his true name, the commission or the proper board named in section six shall summon the apparent nominee to appear before it and submit to examination. If no person appears in response to such summons or if a person representing himself to be the nominee appears and after a hearing the commission or board is satisfied that the allegations contained in such objection are true, the commission or board shall sustain the objection and vacate the nomination.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission › Section 12 - Records of Decisions; Transcripts of Hearings

Section 12. The commission shall be required to keep records of all decisions and an official transcript of all proceedings of the hearings. These documents shall be stored in the office of the state secretary. The commission shall upon written request provide any person appealing a decision by the commission a copy of the transcript from hearings pertaining to his case, in accordance with rules and regulations established in conformance with chapter thirty A. All records and transcripts of the commission shall be open to the public.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. Unless a contrary intention clearly appears, the words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
''Director'', the director of campaign and political finance as established by chapter 55.
''Candidate'', any candidate as defined by chapter 55.
''Statewide elective office'', the office of governor, lieutenant-governor, attorney general, secretary, treasurer and receiver general and auditor.
''Contribution'', any contribution as defined by chapter 55.
''Qualifying contribution'', any contribution made by an individual and deposited in a candidate's depository account as required by section nineteen of chapter 55 during the calendar year in which elections are held for statewide elective office or the next preceding calendar year except as follows: (a) no contribution shall be considered a qualifying contribution unless the name and address of the individual making the contribution can be determined from statements required to be filed with the director; (b) no contribution shall be considered a qualifying contribution to the extent that it exceeds $250 or would exceed $250 when added to any such contribution previously made by the same individual during the calendar year in which elections are held for statewide elective office or the next preceding calendar year.
The same contribution may be a qualifying contribution for both the primary election and the state election in a year in which elections are held for statewide elective office but no contribution shall remain a qualified contribution after the end of any such year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 2 - Qualifying Candidates

Section 2. On or before the ninth Tuesday before the primary election in any year in which elections are held for statewide elective office the state secretary shall determine and certify to the director and the state treasurer the names and addresses of all candidates for statewide elective office who qualify for the primary ballot and are opposed, by one or more candidates who have qualified for the same ballot in the primary election. For purposes of this chapter any candidate for statewide elective office for whom certificates of nomination and nomination papers have been filed in apparent conformity with law shall be considered qualified for the ballot notwithstanding any objections thereto that may be filed and notwithstanding any vacancy that may occur following the filing of such certificates of nominations and nomination papers other than a vacancy caused by withdrawal of a candidate within the time allowed by law. On or before the fifth Tuesday before the state election in any such year the state secretary shall determine and certify to the director and to the state treasurer the names and addresses of all candidates for statewide elective office who qualify for the state election ballot and are opposed by one or more candidates who have qualified for the state election ballot. For purposes of this chapter any candidate for statewide elective office for whom certificates of nomination and nomination papers have been filed in apparent conformity with law shall be considered qualified for the ballot, as provided with respect to candidates for the primary election, and any, such candidates nominated at the primary election shall be considered qualified for the ballot notwithstanding any objections thereto that may be filed and notwithstanding any vacancy that may occur other than a vacancy caused by withdrawal of a candidate within the time allowed by law. The state secretary shall promptly determine and certify to the director and state treasurer the name and address of any candidate that no longer qualifies for the primary or state election ballot or no longer has opposition because of death or withdrawal or ineligibility for office or because objections to certificates of nomination and nomination papers have been sustained or because of a recount or for any other like reason.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 3 - Limited Public Financing Eligibility

Section 3. The director shall determine and certify to the state treasurer those candidates for statewide elective office that are eligible for limited public financing as provided in sections 4 and 6 and shall determine and certify to the state treasurer the amounts due to each eligible candidate as provided in sections 5 and 7.
The director shall prescribe and make available forms on which statements of qualifying contributions shall be filed by candidates, which statements shall contain the name and address of each individual making a contribution, the amount of the contribution and date of deposit, the cumulative total of all contributions made by that individual during the calendar year in which elections are held for statewide elective office and the next preceding calendar year and shall contain such other information and shall be organized in such a manner as the director may reasonably require to expedite the determinations required to be made by the director by this chapter. The director shall notify candidates of any amounts determined by the director to be due from candidates under section nine and shall direct that such amounts be paid to the state election campaign fund. On or before January 30 of any year next following a year in which elections are held for statewide elective office the director shall prepare and submit a report relating to the matters entrusted to him under this chapter to the clerk of the senate and to the commission established by section 3 of chapter 55 and shall make copies of such report available to any person upon payment of the reasonable cost of copying or reproduction.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 4 - Minimum Financing Available; Primary Election

Section 4. Any candidate for statewide elective office certified by the state secretary under section 2 as qualifying for the ballot and having opposition in primary election shall be eligible to receive limited public financing of his primary election campaign, to the extent provided by section 5, on determination and certification by the director that the candidate (a) has filed a request for public financing with the director together with the bond required by section 8; (b) has filed with the director a statement under subsection (a) of section 1A agreeing to abide by the expenditure limits provided thereby; and (c) has received qualifying contributions as defined by section 1 in at least the following minimum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:
Governor $75,000
Lieutenant Governor 15,000
Attorney General 37,500
Secretary 15,000
Treasurer and Receiver General 15,000
Auditor 15,000
Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, shall be considered in determining whether any such minimum amount has been met. Determination and certification of the eligibility of candidates shall be made by the director on the eighth Tuesday before the primary and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed by candidates. Candidates for governor seeking public financing shall file the statement on or before the Friday that is 11 days preceding said eighth Tuesday and other candidates seeking public financing shall file said statements on or before the Friday next preceding said eighth Tuesday.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 5 - Maximum Financing Available; Primary Election

Section 5. Any candidate eligible to receive limited public financing of his primary election campaign shall, on determination and certification by the director, be entitled to an amount equal to $1 for each one dollar of qualifying contributions as defined by section 1, subject to the following limitations: (a) no candidate shall be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the balance then remaining in the primary candidate account established for that candidate under section 42 of chapter 10; (b) nor shall any candidate be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the following maximum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:
Governor $750,000
Lieutenant Governor 312,500
Attorney General 312,500
Secretary 187,500
Treasurer and Receiver General 187,500
Auditor 187,500
Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, shall be considered in determining amounts to which candidates are entitled. Determinations and certifications of the amounts to which eligible candidates are entitled shall be made by the director on or before the eighth, sixth, fourth and second Tuesday before the primary election and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed prior to such dates.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 6 - Minimum Financing Available; State Election

Section 6. Any candidate for statewide elective office certified by the state secretary under section two as qualifying for the ballot and having opposition in the state election shall be eligible to receive limited public financing of his state election campaign, to the extent provided by section 7, on determination and certification by the director that the candidate (a) has filed a request for public financing with the director together with the bond required by section 8; (b) has filed with the director a statement under subsection (a) of section 1A agreeing to abide by the expenditure limits provided thereby; and (c) has received qualifying contributions as defined by section 1 in at least the following minimum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:
Governor and Lieutenant Governor $125,000
Attorney General 62,500
Secretary 25,000
Treasurer and Receiver General 25,000
Auditor 25,000
Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, shall be considered in determining whether any such minimum amount has been met. Determination and certification of the eligibility of candidates shall be made by the director on the fourth Tuesday before the state election and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed by candidates. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor seeking public financing shall file the statement on or before the Friday that is 11 days preceding said fourth Tuesday and other candidates seeking public financing shall file said statements on or before the Friday next preceding said fourth Tuesday.
The fact that a qualifying contribution has previously been considered in determining eligibility for, or the extent of, public financing of a candidate's primary election campaign shall not prevent consideration of the same contribution in determining eligibility for public financing of such candidate's state election campaign.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 7 - Maximum Financing Available; State Election

Section 7. Any candidate eligible to receive limited public financing of his state election campaign shall, on determination and certification by the director, be entitled to an amount equal to $1 for each one dollar of qualifying contributions as defined by section one subject to section nine and subject to the following limitations: (a) no candidate shall be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the balance then remaining in the state election candidate account established for that candidate under section 43 of chapter 10; (b) nor shall any candidate be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the following maximum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:
Governor and Lieutenant Governor $750,000
Attorney General 312,500
Secretary 187,500
Treasurer and Receiver General 187,500
Auditor 187,500
Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, stall be considered in determining amounts to which candidates are entitled. Determinations and certifications of the amounts to which eligible candidates are entitled shall be made by the director on or before the fourth and second Tuesday before the state election and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed prior to such dates.
The fact that a qualifying contribution has previously been considered in determining eligibility for, or the extent of, public financing of a candidate's primary election campaign shall not prevent consideration of the same contribution in determining the extent of public financing of such candidate's state election campaign.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 8 - Bond for Faithful Compliance

Section 8. No candidate shall be eligible to receive public financing under this chapter unless and until the candidate deposits with the director a bond for the faithful compliance by such candidate and any political committee organized on his behalf with the provisions of this chapter. Such bond shall be in a form approved by the director, shall be signed by such candidate and the chairman and treasurer of any such committee, shall run to the commonwealth, shall be in force during the year in which elections for statewide elective office are held and for the following calendar year. The bond deposited for the purpose of receiving public financing for the primary election campaign must be for the amount which the comptroller has credited to the account established on behalf of that candidate for the primary election campaign. The bond deposited for the purpose of receiving public financing for the state election campaign must be for the amount which the comptroller has credited to the account established on behalf of that candidate for the state election campaign, but in the case of a candidate for governor, the bond on behalf of said candidate shall be in the amount which the comptroller has credited to the account established on behalf of that governor and lieutenant governor team.
On determination by the director that a candidate has failed to make the payments to the state treasurer required by section 9 the director may request the attorney general to bring an action in the name of the state treasurer upon the bond of such candidate and his political committee and may recover for the benefit of the state election campaign fund, up to the sum of such bond, any such payments so required. Any such action shall be in addition to remedies otherwise available by law and no action on any such bond shall preclude the director from bringing such other civil or criminal proceedings as may otherwise be provided by law.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 9 - Statement of Surplus Balance

Section 9. Within 2 weeks following any primary or state election for statewide elective office any candidate who has received public financing under this chapter shall file a statement with the director showing the balance remaining in the candidate's depository account as of the primary or state election less any reserve necessary to cover debts incurred to defray campaign expenditures incurred during such primary or state election. Except as provided in this section, any candidate having a surplus balance following any such primary or state election shall thereupon pay to the state treasurer for deposit to the State Election Campaign Fund an amount determined by multiplying such surplus balance by a fraction the numerator of which is the total amount of public financing received on account of such primary or state election campaign and the denominator of which is the sum of such public financing received and all contributions received by such candidate. No candidate having a surplus balance following the primary election shall be required to make any payment on account of such surplus if such candidate is certified by the state secretary under section 2 as qualifying for the ballot and having opposition in the state election and is certified by the director of campaign and political finance as eligible for public financing for the state election within 3 weeks following such primary election. In determining and certifying the amount to which any such candidate is entitled under section 7, the director shall reduce the amount that would otherwise be determined under that section by an amount equal to the amount that such candidate would be required to pay to the state treasurer under this section but for this sentence.
If the director determines that any portion of the payments made to an eligible candidate under this chapter was in excess of the aggregate amount of the payments to which the candidate was entitled he shall so notify the candidate and he shall thereupon pay to the state treasurer an amount equal to the excess amount.
If the director determines that any portion of the payments made to a candidate under this chapter for use in his primary election campaign or his state election campaign was used for any purpose other than to defray campaign expenditures in that campaign, or to repay loans the proceeds of which were used to defray campaign expenditures in that campaign, the director shall so notify the candidate and he shall thereupon pay an amount equal to the full amount so used to the state treasurer without regard to the source of the funds so used.
Any candidate who fails to pay an amount determined by the director to be due within 10 days of notice thereof shall be subject to a penalty of $50 per day for every day that such amount remains unpaid.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 11 - Director Authority

Section 11. The director shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
The director shall have the same power and authority to investigate the legality, validity, completeness and accuracy of all reports and actions required to be filed and taken by candidates pursuant to this chapter as is provided by section 3 of chapter 55 pertaining to campaign contributions and expenditures.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office › Section 12 - Punishment for Violations

Section 12. Violation by any person of any provision of this chapter shall, in addition to any civil liabilities established by this chapter, be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than on $1,000, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 1 - False Listings by Registrars, Listing Board Members, Police Officers or Interpreters

Section 1. A registrar, assistant registrar, member of a listing board, police officer or interpreter, who knowingly enters on any list of persons, or causes or allows to be entered thereon, or reports the name of any person as a resident of a building, who is not a resident thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 2 - Misconduct of Registrars or Assistants

Section 2. A registrar or assistant registrar who refuses or wilfully neglects to require, under section forty-four of chapter fifty-one, an applicant for registration to submit an affidavit in compliance with said section, or who knowingly prevents or seeks to prevent the registration of any legal voter, or who knowingly registers the name of any person not qualified to vote, or who is guilty of any fraud or corrupt conduct in the execution of the duties of his office, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 3 - Neglect of Duty; Registrars or Assistants, Listing Board Members, or Police Officers

Section 3. A registrar, assistant registrar or a member of a listing board or a police officer in a city or town having a listing board upon whom a duty is imposed by any law relating to the listing or registration of voters, who refuses or wilfully fails to perform such duty, or who wilfully performs it contrary to law, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 4 - Refusal or Neglect to Give Information to Registrars or Other Authorized Persons

Section 4. Whoever, being an inmate of a building and a resident seventeen years of age or upward, refuses or neglects to give the information required by section four of chapter fifty-one when asked by a registrar, assistant registrar, or anyone so authorized under section fourteen A of said chapter fifty-one to perform such duties, or whoever being an owner or an occupant of a building, or a clerk, superintendent, manager, administrator, or other person having in charge the affairs of a hotel, lodging house, public lodging house, multi-dwelling unit, nursing home, or rest home, as referred to in section ten A of said chapter fifty-one refuses or neglects to give the full and true information within his or her knowledge relating to all persons residing in such building, home, or unit, when asked by such registrar or other authorized person, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year. Whoever, being a licensed innholder, keeper of a lodging house, or public lodging house, keeper or owner of a multi-dwelling unit, or administrator of a nursing home or rest home, fails in any respect to make the reports required by said section ten A of said chapter fifty-one in the detail and manner and within the time therein provided shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 5 - Giving False Information

Section 5. Whoever knowingly gives to a registrar, assistant registrar, member of a listing board or police officer, for the purpose of making a list of residents seventeen years of age or older or a report under the laws relating to the listing and registration of voters, the name of any person as a resident of a building, who is not a resident thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 6 - False Affidavits and Oaths

Section 6. Whoever knowingly or wilfully makes a false affidavit, takes a false oath or signs a false certificate relative to the qualifications of any person for listing or registration shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 7 - Aiding or Abetting False Affidavits or Oaths

Section 7. Whoever aids or abets a person in knowingly or wilfully making a false affidavit, taking a false oath or signing a false certificate relative to the qualifications of any person for listing or registration shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 8 - Illegal Registration

Section 8. Whoever causes or attempts to cause his name to be registered, knowing that he is not a qualified voter in the place of such registration or attempted registration; whoever registers or attempts to register under a name other than his own; whoever represents or attempts to represent himself as some other person to an election commissioner, registrar or assistant registrar; whoever gives a false answer to an election commissioner, registrar, or assistant registrar respecting any matter relating to his registration or his right to vote; whoever otherwise illegally registers or attempts to register; whoever knowingly provides false information in connection with automatic voter registration under section 65 of chapter 51; or whoever aids or abets any other person in doing any of the acts above mentioned, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VIII - Elections › Chapter 56 - Violations of Election Laws › Section 10 - Defacing or Removing Notices or Voting Lists

Section 10. Whoever wilfully defaces or removes a notice relating to the registration of voters, or a voting list, posted according to law, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.