Tsongas v. Secretary of the Commonwealth

The plaintiffs are two candidates for county commissioner and one for county treasurer of Middlesex County. They sought injunctive and declaratory relief in the county court, contending that G. L. c. 53, § 34, as amended through St. 1970, c. 41,2 and c. 54, § 42, as amended through St. 1972, c. 97,3 relating to the position of candidates on primary and final election ballots, violate art. 9 4 of the Declaration of Rights of the Massachusetts Constitution. Two additional parties were permitted to intervene,5 and memoranda were submitted by friends of the court.6 The single justice granted the…