(1)
Election Officers Assigned to Each Polling Place. Each
precinct must have assigned to it a warden, clerk and at least two inspectors
(four in cities unless the clerk determines that fewer inspectors are needed),
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 count the
votes after the election.
(2)
Election Officers Must Represent Political Parties.
With in 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 during the vote count. 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 may 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 such as challenged
votes or ballots and inoperative machines during the conduct of the election.
The clerk is responsible for maintaining the Election Record, filling out forms
and adding vote totals for each candidate on the total tally sheet. The clerk
shall read and record the voting machine protective counter, and check the
public counter, before and after the election.
(5)
Inspectors: General
Duties. Inspectors shall be assigned to duties by the warden. Two
election officers of different political parties shall be assigned to the
check-in area at the entrance to the voting area. Party representation
requirements may not apply under 950 CMR
53.01(2).
(6)
Voting Machine
Custodians. Voting machine custodians shall be in charge of the
preparation and upkeep of voting machines. They shall be in charge of setting
up the voting machine prior to the opening of the polls. If they are requested
by the warden to make repairs or adjustments during the election they must make
the repair in the presence of at least two election officers.