Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title VIII Chapter 56
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 56, § 11 (2026)

Wilful alteration, mutilation, or destruction of nomination papers, etc.; subscribing to false statements

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Section 11. Whoever falsely makes or wilfully alters, defaces, mutilates, destroys or suppresses a certificate of nomination or nomination paper, or letter of withdrawal of a name from such paper, or an initiative petition or a petition for the submission of a question to the voters, or unlawfully signs any such certificate, paper, letter or petition, or files any such certificate, paper, letter or petition, knowing the same to be falsely made or altered, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1987–1999 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Katsirubis, 696 N.E.2d 147 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998).
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Commonwealth v. Katsirubis, 696 N.E.2d 147 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998). · cites it 7× “As for the offense under G. L. c. 56, § 11, involving the filing of false certificates, the judge saw fit to impose a fine of $12,000 ($1,000 for each of the twelve counts).”
Commonwealth v. Romero, 514 N.E.2d 1333 (Mass. App. Ct. 1987). “See G. L. c. 56, § 11, and G. L. c. 268, § 1A.”
Walsh v. Sec'y of the Commonwealth, 430 Mass. 103 (Mass. 1999). “G. L. c. 56, § 11. The plaintiffs also suggest that, under the dictates of Hurst , a petition drive could only be conducted by professionals or a large organization.”
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