Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 51, § 1 (2026)

Qualifications of voters

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. Every citizen eighteen years of age or older, not being a person under guardianship or incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction, and not being temporarily or permanently disqualified by law because of corrupt practices in respect to elections, who is a resident in the city or town where he claims the right to vote at the time he registers, and who has complied with the requirements of this chapter, may have his name entered on the list of voters in such city or town, and may vote therein in any such election, or except insofar as restricted in any town in which a representative town meeting form of government has been established, in any meeting held for the transaction of town affairs. Notwithstanding any special law to the contrary, every such citizen who resides within the boundaries of any district, as defined in section one A of chapter forty-one, may vote for district officers and in any district meeting thereof, and no other person may so vote. A person otherwise qualified to vote for national or state officers shall not, by reason of a change of residence within the commonwealth, be disqualified from voting for such national or state officers in the city or town from which he has removed his residence until the expiration of 6 months from such removal.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 17 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1972–2024 · leading case: Guardianship of Hurley, 476 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 1985).

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Guardianship of Hurley, 476 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 1985). · cites it 8× “3 of Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution or of G. L. c. 51, § 1. The plaintiff also filed on August 21,1980, a memorandum of law in support of the petition.”

Chelsea Collaborative, Inc. v. Sec'y of the Commonwealth, 100 N.E.3d 326 (Mass. 2018). · cites it 3× “4 See G. L. c. 51, §§ 1 (requiring voters to comply with requirements of G.”

Dane v. Bd. of Registrars of Voters of Concord, 371 N.E.2d 1358 (Mass. 1978). · cites it 2× “Relying on the Stifel decision as a precedent, the Appeals Court held in the Coulombre case that, where the plaintiff, in addition to his statement of intent, had worked in Worcester and otherwise engaged in community activity, he had rebutted the presumption against the…”

Commonwealth v. Stone, 320 N.E.2d 888 (Mass. 1974). · cites it 2× “1 Prior to amendment in 1972, G. L. c. 51, § 1, denied to “paupers” the right to vote, thereby excluding such persons from the jury service under G.”

Hershkoff v. Bd. of Registrars of Voters of Worcester, 321 N.E.2d 656 (Mass. 1974). · cites it 2× “” G. L. c. 51, § 1, as amended through St. 1971, c.”

Coulombre v. Bd. of Registrars of Voters of Worcester, 326 N.E.2d 360 (Mass. App. Ct. 1975). · cites it 4× “231A, seeking to establish that he was a resident of Worcester under G. L. c. 51, § 1, as amended through St. 1972, c.”

Guardianship of Hocker, 791 N.E.2d 302 (Mass. 2003). “When adjudicated incompetent, a person may lose certain privileges and rights: a person adjudicated incompetent may not vote, G. L. c. 51, § 1, see Guardianship of Hurley, 394 Mass.”

In re Rena, 705 N.E.2d 1155 (Mass. App. Ct. 1999). “138, §§ 34 & 34A); may not vote (G. L. c. 51, § 1); and may not serve on a jury (G.”

United States v. Green, 532 F. Supp. 2d 211 (D. Mass. 2005). “Likewise, under G.L. c. 51 § 1: Every citizen eighteen years of age or older, not being a person under guardianship or incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction, and not being temporarily or permanently disqualified by law because of corrupt practices in…”

Connolly v. Sec'y of the Commonwealth, 536 N.E.2d 1058 (Mass. 1989). “See G. L. c. 51, § 1. We agree with the judge’s ruling.”

Green v. Comm'r of Corporations & Taxation., 305 N.E.2d 92 (Mass. 1973). “81, with G. L. c. 51, § 1, as amended by St. 1966, c.”

Simmons v. Galvin, 652 F. Supp. 2d 83 (D. Mass. 2007). · cites it 2× “150, M.G.L. c. 51, § 1, they were wrongfully denied their right to vote in federal and state elections.”

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