2026 Ballot Questions
2026 Massachusetts Ballot Questions:
A Primer
Question 1: Expanding the Public Records Law
Question 2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees
Question 3: State Primary Elections
Question 4: Election Day Registration
Question 5: State Revenue Limit and Rebate
Question 6: Natural Resource Conservation Fund
Question 7: Single Family Homes
Question 8: Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana
Question 1: Expanding the Public Records Law
Summary:
This proposed law would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This proposed law would exempt documents related to the development of public policy and communications between legislators and their constituents, if those communications are reasonably related to a constituent’s request for assistance in obtaining government-provided benefits or services or interacting with a government agency.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
A NO vote would make no change to the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
Question 2: Collective Bargaining for Committee for Public Counsel Services Employees
Summary:
This proposed law would specify that employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (“CPCS”) are permitted to engage in collective bargaining with their employer. It would also require CPCS, after executing a collective bargaining agreement, to request the appropriation necessary to fund such agreement from the Governor.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would specify that Committee for Public Counsel Services employees may form a union to collectively bargain with their employer.
A NO vote would make no change to the law governing labor relations for Committee for Public Counsel Service employees.
Question 3: State Primary Elections
Summary:
This proposed law would eliminate political party primaries for state elections and instead establish a system where there would be a single, all-party primary in which all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters could vote for any candidate on the ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary would advance to the general election ballot.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections and require a single primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot, voters could vote for any candidate, and the top two candidates would advance to the general election.
A NO vote would make no change to the laws governing primary elections.
Question 4: Election Day Registration
Summary:
This proposed law would permit eligible individuals to register to vote or update their voter registration address on Election Day.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would permit eligible citizens to register to vote or to update their voter registration address at their polling place on Election Day.
A NO vote would make no change to the laws governing voter registration.
Question 5: State Revenue Limit and Rebate
Summary:
This proposed law would change the limit on how much revenue the state can collect in a given year. The proposal would limit state revenue in a given year to the net amount of state revenue from the year before, increased by a rate equal to the average growth of wages and salaries in Massachusetts over the most recent three years. If revenue collected by the state in a given year exceeds the limit, the excess amount would be refunded to taxpayers the following year. The proposed law would include all revenue from the surtax on incomes over $1 million when calculating the revenue limit and when determining whether state revenue exceeds the limit.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would change the limit on state revenue collection, tying it to prior year collections plus average wage and salary growth, and provide for a rebate of revenue exceeding that limit.
A NO vote would make no change in the law relative to state revenue collection.
Question 6: Natural Resource Conservation Fund
Summary:
This proposed law would establish a Nature for All Fund that, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, would receive 50% of state taxes collected from the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses for the first year of its operation. After July 1, 2028, the Nature for All Fund would begin receiving, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, 100% of state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses... The proposed law would allow the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to spend the money in the Nature for All Fund for natural resource conservation.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would create a fund that could be utilized for natural resource conservation that would receive some state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods and recreational vehicles, and the use of golf courses.
A NO vote would not create this natural resource conservation fund or change how sales and use taxes are spent.
Question 7: Single Family Homes
Summary:
This proposed law would allow single-family homes to be built in a residentially zoned area as long as the land on which it is to be constructed is at least 5,000 square feet, has at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, road, or public way that it faces, and has access to public sewer and water services. It would allow cities and towns to reasonably regulate certain aspects of those single-family homes, including their height, distance from neighboring buildings, open space, parking requirements, and whether they can be rented out on a short-term basis.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would allow single-family homes to be built on lots of 5,000 square feet or more in residential areas, subject to reasonable local regulation of certain aspects of those homes.
A NO vote would make no change to the law relative to building single-family homes.
Question 8: Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana
Summary:
The proposed law would change the type and amount of marijuana that may legally be possessed in Massachusetts by repealing the laws that legalize, regulate, and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana in Massachusetts. The proposed law would also permit persons 21 years of age and older to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana including no more than 5 grams in the form of concentrate, and to gift or transfer to another person 21 years of age and older 1 ounce or less of marijuana including no more than 5 grams in the form of concentrate. The proposed law would also impose a civil penalty of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana for the possession of marijuana between the weight of 1 and 2 ounces.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would prohibit the legalization, regulation, and taxation of the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana, and change the penalties for possession of marijuana.
A NO vote would make no change to the law relative to marijuana.
Question 9: Referendum on Existing Firearms Regulation Law
Summary:
This law makes a number of changes to Massachusetts laws governing firearms. The law adds school administrators and licensed healthcare providers as parties permitted to ask a court to issue an Extreme Risk Protection Order – requiring an individual to surrender or relinquish their firearm licenses, permits, and firearms - if an individual is a present danger to self or others. The law also provides that, when issuing an Harassment Prevention Order, a court may also order the surrender of firearms licenses, permits, and firearms.
What your vote will do:
A YES vote would keep in place the law, which increases the regulation of firearms, including ghost guns, machine guns, and assault-style weapons.
A NO vote would repeal this law.