950 CMR 58.00 — Central registry of voters

950 CMR: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

950 CMR 58.00: CENTRAL REGISTRY OF VOTERS Section 58.01: Purpose 58.02: Definitions 58.03: General Requirements 58.04: Records Transmitted by Electronic Agency Processing 58.05: Reporting Election Results

950 CMR 58.00 Central registry of voters

58.01 Purpose

58.01: Purpose 950 CMR 58.00 governs the operation of the central registry of voters, under the authority of M.G.L. c. 51, § 47C. The purpose of the central registry of voters is to maintain a state-wide list of all registered voters in the commonwealth; to maintain, if collected by the municipality, the information contained in M.G.L. c. 51, § 4; and to aid in the reporting of information to the Federal Election Commission as required under 11 CFR § 8.7. 950 CMR 58.00 shall be interpreted to achieve and maintain accuracy, uniformity, and security from fraud in the procedures of local registrars of voters in obtaining, using, and providing the above information. 950 CMR 58.00 shall also govern the use of the central registry of voters to ascertain the results of state elections in cities and towns in accordance with M.G.L. c. 54, § 104.

58.02 Definitions

58.02: Definitions Terms not defined in 950 CMR 58.00 shall have the same meaning as terms defined in 950 CMR 57.00. Central Registry of Voters. A statewide computer system connecting each city and town, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Certification of Election Results. The process of ascertaining the results of state primaries and

state elections in cities and towns in accordance with M.G.L. c. 54, § 104.

Certification of Voter Registration. The process of accepting a voter registration application by

the registrars of voters for inclusion into the central registry of voters.

Computer Record. A voter registration record transmitted through the central registry of voters

to the registrars of voters of a city or town.

Date of Inactivity. The date that a confirmation mailing is sent out.

Duplicate Registration. A voter registration application that is identical in every respect to one

that is already contained in the central registry of voters.

Pending Queue. The names of voters who have registered to vote and are waiting for

certification by the registrars.

Return of Votes. The printed report containing the certified city/town election results.

Tally Sheet. The program in the Central Registry of Voters used to report election results.

Voter Status. The designation of a voter as active or inactive.

58.03 General Requirements

58.03: General Requirements (1) The registrars shall enter into the central registry of voters, all information required to maintain and update the annual register of voters pursuant to M.G.L. c. 51. This includes, but is not limited to: (a) The name, residential address, party or political designation, and effective date of registration of all registered voters in their community.

950 CMR: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

58.03 continued

58.03: continued (b) The designated agency at which the voter registered, the agency code contained on the mail-in agency form, or the type of voter registration affidavit completed by the registrant. Types of voter registration affidavits include mail-in registration, online registration, and in- person registration. (c) The name, address, and date of inactivity of all voters designated as inactive in their community. (d) The number of voters sent confirmation mailings pursuant to M.G.L. c. 51, § 37, and the number of responses received from voters to those confirmation mailings. (2) The registrars may correct information to the extent necessary to maintain the integrity of their records. (3) The registrars shall enter into the central registry of voters all information required by M.G.L. c. 51, § 4, if collected by the municipality. (4) The registrars shall remove from the central registry of voters all voters who are no longer registered to vote in their community. (5) The city or town clerk shall use the tally sheet module to enter state primary, presidential primary and state election results.

58.04 Records Transmitted by Electronic Agency Processing

58.04: Records Transmitted by Electronic Agency Processing (1) The registrars shall review the pending queue of the central registry of voters during each business day. (2) Upon receipt of a completed computer record, the registrars shall certify such record, and add the person’s name, residential address, party or political designation, and effective date of registration to the central registry of voters. (3) If the computer record is incomplete, the registrars shall treat such record as an incomplete mail-in affidavit of registration, and follow the provisions of 950 CMR 57.04(3). (4) If the computer record displays an address that does not exist in the city or town and cannot be corrected by the registrars, the registrars shall reject such record. (5) The registrars shall send an acknowledgment notice to each registrant upon final disposition of the computer record. (6) Upon receipt of a duplicate registration, the registrars shall check the voter status. If the voter is inactive, he shall be restored to active status. If the voter is active, the registrars shall reject the record. (7) Upon receipt of a change of name, address, or party, the registrars shall make such change, subject to 950 CMR 58.04(4), and send an acknowledgment notice.

58.05 Reporting Election Results

58.05: Reporting Election Results (1) The city or town clerk shall enter into the Tally Sheet all ballots cast and votes for candidates and questions, including blanks, voted on at state primaries, presidential primaries and state elections that are required to be submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. This shall not include the offices of ward and town committee, Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Barnstable County Assembly Delegate, and Regional School Committees. (2) Results for all candidates and questions shall be entered for each precinct. Results shall include votes for candidates whose names are printed on the ballot, write-in candidates, questions, and blanks.

950 CMR: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

58.05 continued

58.05: continued (3) Once the results have been entered, the city or town clerk shall certify such results in the system and then shall print and sign the Return of Votes report, and mail such reports to the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. (a) After a state primary or a presidential primary, such results shall be certified in the system and the Return of Votes report signed and postmarked no later than the fourth day after the primary. (b) After a state election, such results shall be certified in the system and the Return of Votes report signed and postmarked no later than the 15 th day after the election. (4) Once the results have been certified in the system by the election official, they can only be amended by a written statement signed by the election official and submitted to the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. REGULATORY AUTHORITY 950 CMR 58.00: M.G.L. c. 51, § 47C.