What are the rules for ballot access?
In Massachusetts, the rules for ballot access vary depending on the type of election. For statewide races, a person must collect at least 10,000 signatures from registered voters in the state, in order to be on the ballot. The signatures must be collected within a certain timeframe, usually between 90 and 150 days prior to the election. Additionally, the signatures must come from at least 50 cities or towns. For local or municipal elections, the rules can differ from town to town. Some towns may require a certain number of signatures, while others may not require signatures at all. Generally, the requirements are lower than they are for statewide races. In Massachusetts, a person must be a registered voter in order to sign ballot access petitions. Additionally, they must provide their name, address, city, and zip code. Signers must also include the office they are signing for and provide either the date of birth or the last four digits of their social security number. Signatures must also be notarized by an election official in order to be valid. Finally, the ballot access rules in Massachusetts also vary depending on if the candidate is running for federal, state, or local office. For example, running for Congress requires a person to collect a minimum of 2,000 signatures from registered voters in the state. On the other hand, running for State Senate requires 10,000 signatures. This shows that the rules for ballot access in Massachusetts can vary significantly depending on the type of election.
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