Decl. of Rights, Art. IX

Free elections and equal right to vote

Right Voting & Elections Declaration of Rights

Official text rightpowerlimitif conditionlegal term

All elections ought to be free; and all the inhabitants of this commonwealth, having such qualifications as they shall establish by their frame of government, have an equal right to elect officers, and to be elected, for public employments.

Note (Massachusetts Legislature): [See Amendments, Arts. XLV and XLVIII, The Initiative, sec. 2.]

Note (Massachusetts Legislature): [For compulsory voting, see Amendments, Art. LXI.]

Note (Massachusetts Legislature): [For use of voting machines at elections, see Amendments, Art. XXXVIII.]

Note (Massachusetts Legislature): [For absent voting, see Amendments, Art. LXXVI.]

Simplified explanation

All elections ought to be free, and all inhabitants of the commonwealth who have the qualifications set by the frame of government have an equal right to elect officers and to be elected to public employments.

Official page on malegislature.gov ↗