Code of Massachusetts Regulations
950 CMR - OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Title 950 CMR 49.00 - Confidential Voter Registration
Section 49.13 - At the Polls
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) Appearance at the Polls. When a confidential voter appears at the polls with a certificate issued from the registrar, that person shall not be required to give their name or address. The name and address of the confidential voter are not public record and should not be announced even if the election official recognizes the voter.
(2) Voting Procedure: Confidential Voter Number on Voting List. The voter will present their certificate of confidential registration to the election officer at the check- in. The election officer will look at the end of the active and inactive voting lists to find the number that corresponds to the certificate. If such number is found on the voting list, the election officer shall check it and shall admit the voter and provide such voter with a ballot. For those systems for which there is no check-out, the election officer shall retain the certificate. For those systems which utilize a check-out, when the voter has completed voting, the certificate must be presented to the exit checker, and attached to the voting list. The certificate shall not be a public record.
(3) Voting Procedure: Confidential Voter Number Not on Voting List. If the voter has presented a certificate for which no corresponding number is located on the active or inactive voting list, the voter should be permitted to vote using an escrow ballot, and the certificate of confidential registration should be enclosed in the ballot envelope. Or in the alternative, the voter may proceed, with his or her confidential voter certificate, to the registrar's office in order to determine whether a listing error has been made. If it has been determined that a listing error has occurred, the registrars should issue an absentee ballot to the voter, who shall mark it and enclose it in an absentee ballot envelope, together with the certificate of confidential registration. The registrar should then mark on the envelope "Listing Error" and as soon as practicable shall transmit the envelope to the proper polling place where it should be counted as if the voter had appeared personally and the certificate should be should attached to the voting list.
