Please refer to the “exact copy” guidelines set forth in state regulations as summarized below, including printing of petitions double-sided.

The Code of Massachusetts Regulations, 950 CMR § 48.07(2)(b), provides examples of petitions that are not exact copies, which include, but are not limited to:
• The paper size or color is different than that prepared by the Secretary;
• The original text is missing or altered;
• The petition form is one which was sent by facsimile;
• The petition form contains printing on only one side;
• The petition form contains two front sides; or
• The petition form contains a different number of signature lines than the number on the original petition form as prepared by the Secretary.

Any petitions circulated MUST conform to the above standards to avoid disqualification. Signatures contained on petitions that contain extraneous markings and/or that are not exact copies will not be accepted as valid signatures towards the total number of required signatures.