VIOLATIONS OF ELECTION LAWS

M.G.L. pt. Part I, tit. Title VIII, ch. c. 56

in effect

M.G.L. c. 56, § 1 False listings by registrars, listing board members, police officers or interpreters

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 2 Misconduct of registrars or assistants

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 3 Neglect of duty; registrars or assistants, listing board members, or police officers

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 4 Refusal or neglect to give information to registrars or other authorized persons

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 5 Giving false information

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 6 False affidavits and oaths

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 7 Aiding or abetting false affidavits or oaths

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 8 Illegal registration

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 9 Misconduct at registration

c. 56, § 9. Misconduct at registration Section 9. Whoever refuses to obey the lawful orders or directions of an election commissioner, a registrar or assistant registrar, or interrupts or disturbs the proceedings at any registration shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 10 Defacing or removing notices or voting lists

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 11 Wilful alteration, mutilation, or destruction of nomination papers, etc.; subscribing to false statements

c. 56, § 11. Wilful alteration, mutilation, or destruction of nomination papers, etc.; subscribing to false statements Section 11. Whoever falsely makes or wilfully alters, defaces, mutilates, destroys or suppresses a certificate of nomination or nomination paper, or letter of withdrawal of a name from such paper, or an initiative petition or a petition for the submission of a question to the voters, or unlawfully signs any such certificate, paper, letter or petition, or files any such certificate, paper, letter or petition, knowing the same to be falsely made or altered, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 11A False or willful alteration of district designation on nomination papers

c. 56, § 11A. False or willful alteration of district designation on nomination papers Section 11A. Whoever falsely or willfully alters the designation of the district on a nomination paper after the names of voters signed thereto have been certified shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 12 Misconduct of officers; failure to perform duties

c. 56, § 12. Misconduct of officers; failure to perform duties Section 12. An officer of a primary, caucus or convention who knowingly makes any false count of ballots or votes, or makes a false statement or declaration of the result of a ballot or vote, or knowingly refuses to receive any ballot offered by a person qualified to vote at such primary, caucus or convention, or wilfully alters, defaces or destroys any ballot cast, or voting list used thereat, before the requirements of law have been complied with, or refuses or wilfully fails to receive any written request made as thereby required, or refuses or wilfully fails to perform any duty or obligation imposed thereby shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 13 Challenged ballots; failure to make proper entry

c. 56, § 13. Challenged ballots; failure to make proper entry Section 13. A presiding officer at a caucus, primary or state or city election, or at an election in a town or district at which official ballots are used, who, when the right of a person offering to vote is challenged for any legal cause, wilfully or negligently fails to require the name and residence of such person to be written upon the ballot offered by him, and to add thereto the name of the person challenging and the assigned cause, before such ballot is received, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 14 Protected information; penalties

c. 56, § 14. Protected information; penalties Section 14. A primary, election or other officer whose duty it is to recount the ballots cast at a primary or election, who makes any statement or gives any information in regard to a ballot cast by a voter challenged at such primary or election, except as required by law, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months. A primary or election officer who makes any statement or gives any information in regard to a Confidential Registration certificate, as defined in section fifty-one A of chapter fifty-one, 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 15 Reading or showing names selected on ballots during election

c. 56, § 15. Reading or showing names selected on ballots during election Section 15. A presiding officer who, at a town election at which official ballots are not used, before the polls are closed and without the consent of a voter, reads or examines or permits to be read or examined, the names written or printed on the ballot of such voter, in order to ascertain the persons voted for by him, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 16 Improper disposition of ballots and lists

c. 56, § 16. Improper disposition of ballots and lists Section 16. A primary or election officer, or a director of the count or assistant appointed under section six of chapter fifty-four A, who wilfully violates any provision relating to the enclosing in envelopes or containers, sealing, endorsing and delivering or transmitting of ballots and voting lists, before or after the votes have been counted and recorded, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 17 Unlawful examination of ballots after election

c. 56, § 17. Unlawful examination of ballots after election Section 17. A city or town clerk or an election commissioner who examines or permits to be examined, except as required by law, ballots cast at an election, which are received and retained by him under section one hundred and nine of chapter fifty-four, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 18 Failure to make and transmit election records

c. 56, § 18. Failure to make and transmit election records Section 18. A city or town clerk or an election commissioner who fails to make a record of votes cast at an election and to make and transmit copies of any such record, as required by chapter fifty-four, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars; but if a copy of the records is deposited in the post office within the time fixed for transmission or delivery, postpaid and properly addressed, it shall be a bar to any complaint for delinquency.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 19 False certificates of election results

c. 56, § 19. False certificates of election results Section 19. A city or town clerk, precinct clerk, election commissioner, mayor, alderman, selectman or other officer, who wilfully signs or issues a certificate not in accordance with the result of an election as appearing by the records and copies of records of votes cast, or by a recount of votes, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 21 Misconduct relating to absent voting

c. 56, § 21. Misconduct relating to absent voting Section 21. Any city or town officer trusted with the execution of the laws relative to absent voting, who wilfully violates any provision thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 22 Public officers, election officers, etc.; failure to perform duties

c. 56, § 22. Public officers, election officers, etc.; failure to perform duties Section 22. A public officer, primary, caucus or election officer, director of the count or assistant appointed under section six of chapter fifty-four A, or officer or member of a political committee or convention, upon whom a duty is imposed by law, 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 less than five nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 23 Notices or warrants; defacement or removal

c. 56, § 23. Notices or warrants; defacement or removal Section 23. Whoever wilfully defaces or removes a notice or warrant for a primary, caucus or election 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 24 Lists of candidates; instructions for voters; supplies; defacement or destruction

c. 56, § 24. Lists of candidates; instructions for voters; supplies; defacement or destruction Section 24. Whoever, before a primary or election, wilfully defaces or destroys any list of candidates posted according to law, or, during a primary, caucus or election, wilfully defaces, tears down, removes or destroys any card of instruction or specimen ballot posted for the instruction of voters, or during a primary, caucus or election, wilfully removes or destroys any of the supplies or conveniences furnished to enable a voter to prepare his ballot, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 25 Distinguishing marks; false statements or oaths

c. 56, § 25. Distinguishing marks; false statements or oaths Section 25. Whoever, at a primary, caucus or election, places any distinguishing mark upon his ballot, or makes a false statement as to his ability to mark his ballot, or allows the marking of his ballot to be seen by any person for any purpose not authorized by law, or gives a false answer to or makes a false oath before a presiding officer, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 26 Illegal voting or attempt to vote

c. 56, § 26. Illegal voting or attempt to vote Section 26. Whoever, knowing that he is not a qualified voter in any place, wilfully votes or attempts to vote therein; whoever votes or attempts to vote more than once on his own name, his name having been registered more than once; whoever votes or attempts to vote in more than one voting precinct or town, his name having been registered in more than one voting precinct or town; whoever votes or attempts to vote in any name other than his own, or knowingly casts or attempts to cast more than one ballot at one time of balloting; or whoever votes or attempts to vote otherwise illegally, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 27 Absent voting laws; violations

c. 56, § 27. Absent voting laws; violations Section 27. Whoever, not being entitled to vote under the laws relative to absent voting, votes or attempts to vote thereunder or whoever being entitled to vote under said laws knowingly votes or attempts to vote in violation thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars and by imprisonment for not more than five years.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 27A Unlawful distribution of absent voter ballots

c. 56, § 27A. Unlawful distribution of absent voter ballots Section 27A. Whoever, at any election at which absent voting is permitted, knowingly and wilfully delivers an absent voter ballot to a voter or other person in any other manner than as provided for in section ninety-one A and ninety-one B of chapter fifty-four shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 28 Illegal voting; aiding or abetting

c. 56, § 28. Illegal voting; aiding or abetting Section 28. Whoever, at a primary, caucus or election, aids or abets a person who is not entitled to vote, in voting or attempting to vote, or in voting or attempting to vote under a name other than his own, or in casting or attempting to cast more than one ballot, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 29 Unlawful interference with voter

c. 56, § 29. Unlawful interference with voter Section 29. Whoever wilfully and without lawful authority hinders, delays or interferes with, or aids in hindering, delaying or interfering with, a voter while on his way to a primary, caucus or election, while within the guard rail, while marking his ballot or while voting or attempting to vote, or endeavors to induce a voter, before depositing his ballot, to disclose how he marks or has marked it, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 30 Obstruction of voting

c. 56, § 30. Obstruction of voting Section 30. Whoever wilfully obstructs the voting at a primary, caucus or election shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 31 Illegal challenges

c. 56, § 31. Illegal challenges Section 31. Any person challenging a qualified voter for purposes of intimidation, or of ascertaining how he voted, or for any other illegal purpose, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 32 Bribery of voter

c. 56, § 32. Bribery of voter Section 32. No person shall, directly or indirectly, pay, give or promise to a voter, any gift or reward to influence his vote or to induce him to withhold his vote. Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 33 Employers; influencing votes of employees; penalties

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 34 Promising public appointments

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 35 Promising public appointments for political action

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 36 Public officers and employees; influencing political action

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 37 Public officers and employees; initiative and referendum; promotion or opposition for hire

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 38 Editorial support; payment for or receipt of payment

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 39 Publishing political advertisements; statement; names; signatures

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 40 Using names of political parties; restrictions

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 41A Unauthorized use of endorsements

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 42 False statements relating to candidates or questions submitted to voters

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 43 Interference with distribution of printed matter

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 43A Use of word ''veteran'' by candidates

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 44 Lists of candidates without party designations; distribution

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 44A Lists of candidates; distribution; signatures of responsible voters

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 45 Naturalization fees; payment or promise of payment

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 46 Disorderly conduct at polling places

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 47 Disobeying election, caucus or primary officers

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 48 Interfering with election officials

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 49 Obstructing transmission of ballots or returns

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 50 Alteration or removal of ballots

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 51 Tampering with voting machines

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 52 Forgery, destruction or defacement of ballots

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 53 Distinguishing marks on ballots

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 54 Removing ballots from within guard rail

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 55 Fraudulent alteration or removal of ballots

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 56 Challenged ballots; giving information about vote

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 57 Arrest without warrant

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 58 Prosecutions; trial and judgments; motions for other dispositions

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 59 Supreme judicial court; superior court departments; jurisdiction

c. 56, § 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.

M.G.L. c. 56, § 60 Conduct contrary to election laws; remedies

c. 56, § 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.

Source: Massachusetts General Court (malegislature.gov)URL: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter56Fetched: 10/20/2026