New York

You have the right to vote but must show identification if: you are a first-time voter who registered to vote by mail and did not submit identification with the voter registration form; or your name is on the inactive voter list; or your vote is being challenged; or if requested by a poll worker. Acceptable forms of identification are: Massachusetts driver’s license, other printed documentation containing your name and address such as a recent utility bill, rent receipt on landlord’s letterhead, lease, or a copy of a voter registration acknowledgment or receipt.

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele12/ballot_questions_12/ma_voter_rights.htm

I always take a utilities bill and ID with me, just in case. I've never been asked for anything but my name and address, though; and my word has always been taken. I've never been on the inactive list and, when I was younger, I did not vote as regularly as I do now. (Boston voter here

I don't know where the misinfo is coming from, but, if this has really happening to your friend--and, sorry, but I doubt it, he or she should call the Secretary of State soon and report this. He or she should also print out the rules from the above link and take the printout, ID and a utilities bill to the polls in November. (Our primary is over, of course.)