Chapter 56

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.

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.

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.

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…

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 mo…

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.

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 pr…

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 …

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 …

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 upo…

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 dolla…

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 attempt…

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.