On March 6th 2012, Super Tuesday in Massachusetts, citizen polling observers were prevented by election officials in a number of cities and towns in from being able to conduct legally allowable observation. Election officials have during the past two years refused to allow legal observation, placing various barriers and obstructions to prevent the required transparency of the polling place. Officials either were not aware of the laws or in some cases chose to ignore laws they were well familiar with. Esclations to the Secretary of State often bring a rebuke to city or town officials, but in many cases the officials then ignore the Secretary of State's office and continue the obstruction.  

While citizen observers have been effective in preventing some elements of fraud in Massachusetts, many other examples of potential fraud are observed and yet refused to be documented using legally allowed cameras and or video equipment.