All 9 Mass. ballot questions in 4 minutes: What to know

Question 1: Opening public records

Massachusetts lawmakers and the governor's office keep themselves mostly exempt from the state's Public Records Law.

• A yes vote would open most of their records to public inspection.
• A no vote keeps current exemptions.

The proposal would still shield some documents covering how policy is developed and certain constituent communications.

• Transparency advocates say it would improve accountability, but those big exceptions could keep many State House deliberations from the public.

Question 2: Letting public defenders unionize

The state lawyers who represent people who can't afford attorneys want collective bargaining rights.

• A yes vote allows them and other employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services to form a union.
• A no vote leaves existing labor rules intact.

Staff attorneys have repeatedly tried to unionize but were stopped by current law.

The question comes after a pay dispute last year that led private defense attorneys to stop taking state cases, straining the legal system.

• Supporters anticipate better working conditions.
• Critics worry contracts could limit flexibility for CPCSs.
• The measure wouldn't automatically form a union.

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Question 3: Scrapping party primaries

Question 3 would put candidates from every political party on one primary ballot. The top two finishers would face off in November — even if both are from the same party.

• A yes vote establishes that new system.
• A no vote preserves separate party primaries.

The change would cover congressional, statewide, legislative and many county races.

Background: About 60% of legislative races this year have just one candidate on the November ballot.

• Backers say the overhaul would give voters more competitive choices.
• Opponents warn the system could benefit wealthy candidates and squeeze out independents.

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Question 4: Registering to vote on Election Day

Massachusetts is the only New England state where you can't register to vote on Election Day.

Question 4 would allow eligible citizens to register or update their addresses at their polling places, beginning in 2028.

• A yes vote allows Election Day registration.
• A no vote preserves the current registration deadline before elections.

Voters would show a photo ID or proof of address and sign an eligibility oath.

• Without documentation, voters could cast provisional ballots and supply proof later.

The Massachusetts Republican Party opposes the change over election security and municipal staffing concerns.

• Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin and Gov. Maura Healey support the measure.

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Question 5: More tax refunds

A 1986 law requires Massachusetts to refund tax revenue when it collects over a calculated set cap. It's happened twice: in 1987 and 2022.

• A yes vote recalculates the formula to consider the previous year's collections and wage growth.
• A no vote retains the existing formula.

Supporters want more money returned to taxpayers.

• Opponents fear reduced funding for public services.

Tufts estimates the change could trigger refunds two to four times as often.

• It would also count revenue from the millionaire's tax.

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Question 6: Funding conservation

Question 6 would create a new fund for land conservation, restoration, parks and outdoor recreation.

It would draw on existing taxes from sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses.

• A yes vote establishes the fund.
• A no vote leaves existing tax allocations as-is.

No taxes would increase.

• Environmentalists say dedicated funding would protect natural resources.
• Critics worry lawmakers might not commit to other conservation spending if a dedicated fund exists.

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Question 7: Homes on smaller lots

Question 7 would override municipal lot-size rules to allow single-family houses on residential lots 5,000 square feet or larger. The lots would need public water, sewer and 50 feet of street frontage.

• A yes vote allows single-family homes on smaller lots.
• A no vote leaves existing restrictions unchanged.

Towns could still regulate height, setbacks and parking.

• Supporters say it'll get more starter homes built.
• Tufts estimates 350 to 1,200 net new homes annually.
• The law wouldn't require the houses to be affordable.

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Question 8: Ending recreational marijuana

After a decade of legal marijuana, Question 8 would end licensed adult-use retail sales in 2028 while retaining medical marijuana.

• A yes vote repeals recreational sales laws and restores possession penalties.
• A no vote keeps the current system.

Adults could still possess up to one ounce of marijuana, but more would carry a penalty.

• Supporters say they worry about public health and impaired driving.
• Opponents say rolling back legalization would cost jobs and tax revenue, plus bring back the illegal black market.

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Question 9: Keeping or repealing the gun law

Unlike the other measures, Question 9 is a referendum on an existing law: The 2024 gun-control legislation.

• A yes vote keeps that law.
• A no vote repeals it.

The law's been in effect for over two years. It targets homemade firearms, increases licensing and training requirements, expands the "red flag" program and restricts guns in public places.

• Supporters say the law is working and reduces risks of violence.
• Gun-rights advocates say it's a burden for lawful gun owners and infringes constitutional rights.
• A repeal wouldn't end the state's older gun restrictions.

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