Five Questions for November

As Massachusetts voters get ready to go to the polls, five statewide ballot questions vie for attention alongside the national races.

What questions are on the ballot?

18 October 2024- CAPE COD, MA - As Massachusetts voters get ready to go to the polls, five statewide ballot questions vie for attention alongside the national races. From MCAS to tip compensation we get the highlights from Evan Hororwitz. executive director of the nonpartisan Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) at Tufts University.

What is a ballot question?

Massachusetts has had the ability to include questions on the ballot for more than 100 years. Originally offered as an alternative path to the legislature for create laws, the process today comes largely from organizations who have the finances and capacity to prepare the materials and run the ballot process.  When approved, the ballot question becomes law right away, although once it is law legislators can adapt and change it through the routine lawmaking process.

How do people learn about the questions?

The Secretary of State sends to each registered voter a booklet with the legislative language of each ballot initiative, along with some additional background information. In addition, a variety of organizations including the nonpartisan Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) at Tufts University.

What questions are on the statewide Massachusetts in 2024

The 2024 ballot includes five statewide questions:

• Question one give the state auditor the ability to audit the state legislature;
• Question two addresses high school graduation requirements and moves oversight from state to each individual school district;
• Question three would create a new type of union for non-employees, specifically for transportation contractors. It would be first such union in the country;
• Question 4 might addresses pscyodelic drugs in a very broad and open way;
• Question 5, proposes changes in the  law regarding tip compensation.