Legal Definitions - Massachusetts ballot

A Massachusetts ballot is a type of ballot used in elections. It is a list of candidates running for office, printed in alphabetical order under each office. This is a type of Australian ballot, which is a uniform ballot printed by the government, listing all eligible candidates, and marked in secret.

For example, if there are four candidates running for governor in Massachusetts, their names will be listed in alphabetical order under the title "Governor" on the ballot. This makes it easy for voters to find the candidate they want to vote for.

Other types of ballots include:

• Absentee ballot: A ballot that a voter submits, sometimes by mail, before an election.
• Secret ballot: A vote cast in such a way that the person voting cannot be identified.
• Party-column ballot: A ballot that lists the candidates' names in separate columns by political party regardless of the offices sought by the candidates.

These examples illustrate the definition of a ballot as an instrument used for casting a vote. Different types of ballots are used to make voting easier and more efficient for voters.