Massachusetts Clarifies Police Officer Presence at Voting Sites

It's common to see police officers assigned to polling places. What can they do and not do while on duty?

A report from The Enterprise clarified that police officers are prohibited from campaigning or influencing how people vote, and they must not pressure voters to reveal their choices. A 2024 advisory from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts states the following: "The prohibition against interfering with a voter protects voters who are voting or on their way to vote, which means that it extends outside the 150-foot area around a voting location."

As The Enterprise noted, police officers are detailed at polling places to prevent interference with voters and carry out any orders from the presiding officer at an election site. This statement is in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 54, Section 72.

Penalties for interfering with elections in Massachusetts include fines up to $500 or up to one year in jail, according to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 56, Section 29.

The reminder about police involvement in elections comes after an incident in Brockton in which a police officer allegedly received criticism from mayoral candidate Jean Bradley Derenoncourt, who accused Officer Franck Coulanges of telling residents not to vote for him while Coulanges was working security for the Sept. 16 preliminary election. Coulanges responded by filing a harassment prevention order against Derenoncourt, which was denied.

Election Day in Massachusetts is today, Tuesday, Nov. 4.