Certification Today

The two-month court battle over November's election procedures also appears to be nearing an end. Four voters had charged Secretary of State Michael J. Connolly--who administered the ballot referenda--with violating the constitution by not printing summaries of the nine lengthy initiatives inside voting booths. They also charged numerous voting irregularities.

But the Supreme Judicial Court ruled Dec. 27 that providing separate paper summaries of the questions was indeed constitutional. A full court opinion is expected this week.

Justice Herbert P. Wilkins '51 had ordered a stay on Question 9's certification, however, until 12 a.m. today, leaving room for the legislature to act in advance of rent control's abolition.

Connolly plans to deliver Question 9 to the Governor's Council for enactment at 11 a.m. today, said John K. McCarthy, Connolly's communications director. Question 9 will be the last of the ballot initiatives to be certified.

And even if the courts decide that voting irregularities did take place, the legislature's act is law, with or without Question 9