Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 3, § 1

The state secretary shall receive the copies of records of votes cast for representatives to the general court and shall lay such copies of records before the governor and council. On or before the Tuesday next preceding the first Wednesday of January following a state election he shall deliver to the sergeant-at-arms a certified copy of the list of the persons who appear to be elected as representatives to the general court as shown on the certificate of examination of the copies of the records of votes cast as tabulated by the governor and council and transmitted to him, and upon receiving any further such certificate of examination before the house of representatives is called to order he shall immediately transmit a certified copy of such certificate to the sergeant-at-arms. The state secretary shall also transmit to the house of representatives as soon as the members are called to order a certified copy of each certificate of examination of the copies of records of votes cast as tabulated by the governor and council and transmitted to him.