Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 53, § 40: Number of votes necessary to nominate candidate not on ballot

Section 40. No person who is a candidate at a primary for nomination for or election to a political office, if no candidate's name is printed on the ballot therefor, shall be deemed to be nominated or elected unless he receives a number of votes at least equal to the number of signatures which would be required by law to place his name on the ballot at such primary as a candidate as aforesaid.