Filing and Certification of Applications; Notation on Voting List

(1) If an application for an official early voting ballot is received by the local election official from a qualified voter containing an original signature of said voter, the local election official shall cause to be placed on the voting lists prepared as required by M.G.L. c. 51, § 60, opposite the name of each voter on whose application such certificate has been so executed, the letters EV. (2) If the local election official finds the person signing the application not to be a duly registered voter, the local election official shall send him or her written notice to that effect and shall preserve the application during the time fixed by law for the preservation of ballots cast in the coming election, after which time said application shall be destroyed. (3) If the name and address of a voter applying to vote early appears on the voting list as an inactive voter, the local election official shall allow such inactive voter to vote upon written affirmation by the inactive voter of his or her current and continuous residence in the municipality or residence in the municipality within the previous six months, signed under the penalties of perjury. Such written affirmation shall be preserved with the voting records, and such inactive voter shall be restored to the active voting list at his or her current residence, without requiring further action by the person. (4) If the inactive voter has moved within the city or town, the voter will write the address at which he or she last registered to vote, as well as his or her current address. The inactive voter will vote from the address which corresponds to his or her address as it appears on the inactive voting list. After the election, if the voter has moved within the city or town, the voter shall be restored to the active voting list at his or her current address, without requiring further action by the person. (5) All inactive voters shall be asked to provide suitable identification showing his or her name and current address. Suitable identification shall be defined in 950 CMR 52.03(5)(b): Standard and 54.04(6B): Identification. Inactive voters who fail to show suitable identification must be allowed to vote. However, an election officer shall, and any other person may, challenge their right to vote under M.G.L. c. 54, § 85; 950 CMR 52.03(23): Challenges and 54.04(23): Challenges. (6) The local election officials shall prepare lists arranged by voting precincts, of the names and addresses of all voters who have submitted applications for early voting ballot, as provided in 950 CMR 47.08(1), and shall have such lists available for public inspection upon request. (7) An applicant for an early voting ballot who has been furnished a certificate of supplementary registration, as authorized by M.G.L. c. 51, § 51, shall submit such certificate with his or her application, and the local election official shall cause to be placed on such certificate opposite the name of the applicant the letters EV. Every such certificate shall be kept with and considered part of the voting lists used for early voting.