Section 49. The state secretary, at least five days before state elections, shall transmit to the city or town clerk printed lists of the names, residences and designations of candidates to be voted for at each polling place, substantially in the form of the official ballot, and also printed copies of any proposed amendment to the constitution, law, or proposed law, to be submitted to the people. Upon the receipt thereof the city or town clerk shall conspicuously post in not less than three public places in each ward of a city, or in each town, or in towns divided into voting precincts in each precinct, the lists and copies aforesaid for such ward, town or precinct.