General Duties of Election Officers

(1) Election Officers Assigned to Each Polling Place. Each precinct must have assigned to it a warden, clerk, and at least two inspectors (in cities, four), unless in a town where five or fewer precincts vote in the same building the selectmen decide otherwise under M.G.L. c. 54, § 24. In addition, precincts may have a deputy clerk, deputy warden, additional inspectors as are needed to run the election, and as many tellers as are necessary to process the ballots after the election. (2) Election Officers Must Represent Political Parties. Within each precinct, the election officers must equally represent the two leading political parties. However, two of the officers in each precinct may be unenrolled. The warden and deputy warden must be from the same party and different from that of the clerk and deputy clerk. No more than half the inspectors may be from the same party. Party representation requirements apply only if the chairman of the city or town committee of each political party or the chairman of the state committee of such party files with the registrars lists of enrolled members of the party who desire appointment as election officers under M.G.L. c. 54, §§ 11B, 12 and 13. (3) Warden: General Duties and Authority. The warden shall be the chief election officer at the polling place. The warden shall supervise the other precinct election officers before the polls open, during the election, and while the ballots are processed. The warden is responsible for maintaining order and handling violations of election law by election officers or others. The warden may use police assistance when necessary. If the warden leaves, his deputy shall be in charge, but if there is no deputy, he shall designate a qualified election officer to be in charge. (4) Clerk: General Duties. The election clerk shall keep a record of all facts relating to the proceedings of the election required by law to be recorded. The clerk shall note any unusual happenings during the conduct of the election. The clerk is responsible for maintaining the Election Record and filling out forms. The clerk shall read and record the ballot box register before and after the election. (5) Inspectors: General Duties. Inspectors shall be assigned to duties by the warden. An inspector or other election officer shall be assigned to the demonstration marking unit to instruct voters on its use and to observe voters in order to offer assistance to those having difficulties. Two election officers of different political parties shall be assigned to the check-in area at the entrance to the voting area. Two other election officers of different political parties shall be stationed at the voting area exit. Party representation requirements may not apply under 950 CMR 54.01(2).