Who may vote for state officers
Official text rightpowerlimitif conditionlegal term
Every [male] citizen of [twenty-one] years of age and upwards, excepting [paupers and] persons under guardianship who shall have resided [within the commonwealth one year, and] within the town or district in which he may claim a right to vote, six calendar months next preceding any election of governor, lieutenant governor, senators, or representatives, [and who shall have paid, by himself or his parent, master or guardian, any state or county tax, which shall, within two years next preceding such election, have been assessed upon him in any town or district of this commonwealth; and also, every citizen who shall be, by law, exempted from taxation, and who shall be, in all other respects, qualified as above mentioned,] shall have a right to vote in such election of governor, lieutenant governor, senators and representatives; and no other person shall be entitled to vote in such election.
Note (Massachusetts Legislature): [See Amendments, Arts. XX, XXIII, XXVI, XXVIII, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XL, LXVIII, LXIX, XCIII, XCIV, XCV, and C.]
Note (Massachusetts Legislature): [For absent voting, see Amendments, Arts. XLV and LXXVI.]
Simplified explanation
Every citizen who has resided six calendar months in the town or district where he claims a right to vote has a right to vote for governor, lieutenant governor, senators and representatives, except persons under guardianship; no other person may vote. Bracketed qualifications are printed as superseded.